John J. Berberian, born October 9, 1941 in New York City, is an American musician known for his virtuosity on the oud. Born to Armenian immigrants, Berberian began playing the violin before switching to the oud at age 10, influenced by his father, Yervant Berberian, who was also a skilled oud player and instrument maker. Berberian's career started in the early 1960s with releases on various labels, including Expressions East (1964) and Oud Artistry (1965) under Mainstream Records, and Music of the Middle East (1966) under Roulette Records. Berberian also established his own recording studio and label, Olympia, releasing notable works such as Echoes Of Armenia (1976) and The Dance Album (1978). Concurrently, he pursued a career as a purchasing agent in New York.
