Onnik Dinkjian (born 1929) is a legendary French-born Armenian-American folk and liturgical singer widely celebrated as one of the most influential voices in diaspora music history. Born in Paris to survivors of the Armenian Genocide, he immigrated to the United States in 1946. Dinkjian is internationally revered for his soulful tenor voice and his dedication to preserving the endangered folk songs and unique Armenian dialect of his ancestral home, Dikranagerd. Over a career spanning more than seven decades, he has performed globally, served as an ordained deacon, and frequently collaborated with his son, the world-renowned oud player Ara Dinkjian. In recognition of his monumental role in cultural preservation, he was awarded a prestigious National Heritage Fellowship by the National Endowment for the Arts.
