DANIEL DECKER
International Singer and Composer
Biography
The extraordinary journey of Puerto Rican - American singer and composer Daniel Decker has taken him across the globe over a prolific career. In hundreds of concerts, television and personal appearances in Australia, Great Britain, France, Russia, Syria, Canada, Armenia, Karabagh and across the United States, he has touched countless hearts with his unique fusion of jazz, classical, pop, gospel and world and modern worship music. Born in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico and trained at the famed Crane School of Music in New York, Daniel is a celebrated recording artist with several critically acclaimed CDs, as well as a respected speaker and music educator. His live concert on PBS television also garnered public acclaim.
In addition to his long respected music career in the concert hall as well as the church, Daniel has long been active in humanitarian and human rights causes. He has devoted a significant part of his career to help the people of Armenia. As an “Armenian by choice”, Daniel has been called a cultural ambassador of Armenians around the world. A tireless advocate for international recognition of the Armenian genocide, Daniel has received critical acclaim for both his musical and humanitarian work for Armenia. He was awarded the “Komitas” Medal of the RA Ministry of Diaspora for disseminating Armenian arts in the Diaspora, was presented with the Karot award at the Kremlin in Moscow and was recently awarded with Armenian citizenship by the Republic of Armenia. He has also received numerous other awards in recognition of his work on behalf of Armenia and his contributions to Armenian culture.
Each year, Daniel participates in Armenian Genocide related events across the globe, singing and speaking before thousands in Hollywood, California, New York City's Times Square, Sydney, Australia and Yerevan, Armenia.
A particular highlight of Daniel's connection Armenia can be found in his collaborations with composer Ara Gevorgyan. Daniel’s epic lyrics complement the musical landscapes created by Ara. Their song “Noah’s Prayer” (also called Mush) was debuted in 2002 at the Sardarabad monument in Armenia to celebrate Armenian Independence day. In attendance were Armenian President Robert Kocharyan, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of Holy See of Cilicia, as well as ambassadors from countries around the world.
On April 24, 2005, he was officially invited by the Armenian government to sing their song “Adana” at a special concert in Yerevan, Armenia to commemorate the 90th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, which was broadcast live on Armenian television, and featured on BBC, CNN and Fox News worldwide. To date, “Adana” has been translated into 20 languages and recorded by singers from around the world. “Adana” recounts the story of the Armenian Genocide, during which soldiers of the Ottoman Empire forced 1.5 million Armenians into starvation, torture and extermination. “I wrote ”Adana” not only as a way to draw international attention to a terrible tragedy, but as a source of healing to the Armenian people,” explains Daniel. Cross Rhythms, one of Europe’s leading print magazines and web portals said of “Adana”, “seldom has a disaster of untold suffering produced such a magnificent piece of art.”
To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide on April 24, 2015, Daniel and Ara Gevorgyan created a new work entitled "Remember" as both anthem and message to the rest of the world that the Armenian Genocide must never be forgotten and demands recognition by every nation.
Daniel is also the first non-Armenian to ever record an entire CD in the Armenian language. A project several years in the making, the CD "Armenian By Choice" features beloved Armenian songs “Dle Yaman”, "Kilikia", "Martiki Yerke”, “Aghjka Ergy”, “Akhr Yes Inchpes”, “Siro Gisher”, “Chknagh Yeraz”, “Sers Vanqum Tatevi” and a special duet with Leyla Saribekyan on “Hayotz Ashkhar” . Also featured for the first time are Armenian language versions of Daniel's collaborations with Ara Gevorgyan, “Adana” and “Noah’s Prayer” (also known as (Mush). His goals in creating this bold and unique project are to uplift the Armenian spirit and to introduce the richness of Armenian music and culture to non-Armenians. As Daniel has often said, “Noah’s Ark came to rest on Armenian Mount Ararat, so everyone is Armenian, they just don’t know it yet”.
Daniel's other great music love is modern worship music. Whether it is one of his own works, or from one of the great songwriters of the day like Chris Tomiln, Hillsong or Jeremy Camp, Daniel devotes a great deal of time and energy in leading and directing others in the art of worship.