Marko Melkon

Oud player (= Udi) "Marko" Melkon Alemsherian (1895, Smyrna, Turkey - 1963, New York, US) was an important early figure of Middle Eastern and belly dance music in the United States. An ethnic Armenian born in Izmir (formerly Smyrna), Turkey, he settled in America in 1921 after having spent time in Greece to avoid serving in the Ottoman army. Most of his songs' lyrics were sung in Turkish and he was also comfortable singing in Greek.