John Bilezikjian has been performing for over 51 years. He is an entertainer, musician, singer, composer and teacher. John has a B.A. in Violin, Oud, and Composition from California State University Northridge.

Orange County Register: "He's slightly amazing", "He speaks and performs in 11 languages—Turkish, Armenian, Russian, Spanish, Arabic, Persian, French, German, Greek and both Laurence Olivier English and Willie Nelson English"

The Observer: From out of the dark light of the cabaret and into the spotlight of the concert stage the Oud is very much alive and John Bilezikjian's playing proved that there certainly can be a "Heifetz on the Oud".

Los Angeles Times: John's music needs no translation in the world of American or Middle Eastern audiences. He is a composer, teacher, entertainer, actor and soloist for the Los Angeles Philharmonic. His degrees are on the Oud, Violin and Composition. In the opinion of many qualified critics from the Los Angeles Times, "he is internationally acclaimed and considered a music dazzler" by Herbert J. Vida.

Frets Magazine: "his command of the rhythm, dynamics, and harmonic color is astounding"...Billboard... "a sworn statement to Bilezikjian's proficiency on the difficult 11 stringed instrument played with a quill".

Stereo Review:.."is able to push the Oud far beyond it's ancient capabilities, coaxing chords, harmonies, and contrapuntal effects that lend surprising color to his performance".

John's incorporation of many diverse elements, both folk and classical, Near Eastern and Western, sets him apart as an exceptionally versatile, multi-faceted musician who represents, in effect, a microcosm of the ethnic communal makeup of the City of Los Angeles. His music embraces the traditions of Armenia, Turkey, the Arab World, Greece, Russia, Israel, Eastern Europe, Spain, Asia and Latin America.

He has written and recorded rock 'n roll, music for belly dancing, television and motion picture soundtracks, and has produced a myriad of original compositions. He plays over fifty instruments, although his focus has been and remains the oud.

You can hear John on Placidio Domingo's release "De mi Alma Latina", Ofra Haza's release "Kirya", Robert Palmer's "Ridin High", Cantor Isaac Behar's "Sephardic Sabbath Chants" and Leonard Cohen's CD "Cohen Live".

To view the tapes and CD's that John has available go to pages listed below.

For those who read Arabic...

Here is a some information (in a PDF) about John Bilezikjian translated into Arabic.

Articles

Fretboard Journal, Issue 19, Fall 2010:
Johnny B. Oud: The mastery of John Bilezikjian

Los Angeles Times:
Musician John Bilezikjian dies at 66; master of the Middle Eastern oud