After leaving, he spent 20 years making a new life for himself in Los Angeles, home of a large Armenian community. He found there an audience for his songs, recording studios for his records. "I have a life in the US. I'm known there, and I give concerts. Over there, I am almost an ambassador for peace. Turks, Kurds, Armenians, and Assyrians living in Los Angeles all come and dance together while I play"