Ashur Bet Sargis

Ashur Bet Sargis (; born July 2, 1949) is an Assyrian singer, composer, guitarist and activist. He became famous in the Assyrian communities worldwide for his nationalistic songs in the 1970s. His career peaked, and became prominent, in the 1990s with five albums released within that decade.

His songs usually tend to be sentimental ballads and anthems, although he has made many folk dance music as well. To the contrast of his Assyrian peers in music, Sargis's music is slow and mellow. He is also known for incorporating Greek instruments such as the tambouras into his music.

Early career in Iraq Ashur Bet Sargis was born in Baghdad, Iraq to an Assyrian family who was originally from Habbaniyah. He started playing the organ as a teenager at the local Assyrian church. He later began composing nationalistic songs under the influence of established Assyrian musicians such as Evin Aghassi and King Biba, as well as western artists. As Sargis recalls of his early days in the biography written for his album Everything So Far:

Rise to fame

Shortly after the Ba'ath-led revolution of 1968, Sargis fled the unstable political situation in Iraq in 1969, ending up in Chicago, United States. A year later he formed his first band, "East Bird Band", which released its first recording in 1972. He relocated to Los Angeles in 1973 and in 1975 released his first LP Ashur Sargis Sings for Ancient Assyria which contained nationalistic songs like "Roosh Jwanqa" and "Bet Nahren Atrewa", written by Benyamin Mako, as well as several other songs that have since become staples of his catalog and concerts. He also returned to Northern Iraq many times where he gave many concerts during Kha b-Nisan, before the Iraq War. He is often featured at Zowaa-sponsored festivals in the Nineveh Plains and the Dohuk Governorate. Sargis currently resides in Los Angeles, California.

Discography

Studio Albums 1972 – Bet Nahren ("Mesopotamia") 1975 – Ancient Assyria ( Atour Atiqa) 1979 – Sing Me a Lullaby (Tanili Lay Lay) 1984 – Dance of Victory (Riqda d'Ghaliboota) 1990 – Winter Wind (Pokha d'Sitwa) 1992 – The Mighty Assyrians 1995 – Mirror of Deception (Nora Aldyana) 1996 – From a Distant World (Ana Lewin Min Daha Dunyeh) 1998 – Immortal Memories (Zmaryeta d'Khoba Mtomaya) 2008 – Dashta D'Nineveh (Nineveh Plains) 2016 – Nishmi (My Breath) 2020 - Tarpa (Leaf)

Singles 2014 – Hala Leten 2020 – Yalikhtoh Smoqta Zardeh 2022 – Prookh Rama Ya Nishra (Remix) (Fly High Oh Eagle) 2023 – Shiklow 2023 – Tawani (My Room) 2023 – Ayni Tosh'yeh'le (My Eyes Hid)

Compilation(s)

2003 – Everything So Far (Kol'Mindi Hal Hadyia)