On 24 March, well-known Armenian jazz pianist and creator of the famous AVO cigars Avo Uvezian passed away in his home in Florida. He had turned 91 just two days before his death, reported cigaraficionado.com, according to Hayern Aysor.

Avo Uvezian was born in 1926 in Beirut to a family of musicians. His father was the director of a symphony orchestra, and his mother and younger sister were also professional musicians.

At the age of 16, Avo creates a jazz band that performs in Lebanon and is later invited to perform in Baghdad and Tehran. One day, while the band was performing in a palace, it was spotted by Shah Reza Pehlevi, who helps Avo travel to the United States where he gets accepted to the famous Julliard School in New York.

In 1958, Avo Uvezian meets famous musician Frank Sinatra in Las Vegas. After meeting Sinatra, Avo says the day of their meeting was the best day of his life since he had met the greatest singer.

A couple of years later, Avo performs one of his songs (Broken Guitar) for Frank Sinatra. The latter likes the music a lot, but decides to change the lyrics, and this is how the world famous song Strangers in the Night was composed.

Afterwards, Avo Uvezian leaves for Puerto Rico where he creates a band and performs with it at resort restaurants. One day, he meets Swiss-Armenian Jacques Melkonian, who advises him to produce cigars.

In the beginning, Avo Uvezian would make cigars for himself and his friends. In 1988, he sends 10 boxes of his cigars to the world famous Davidoff Company. The cigars sell very quickly, and the company orders more. After that, Avo Uvezian and Davidoff become inseparable. In 1996, Davidoff purchases the rights of AVO cigar brand for $10 million. The author of the logo for AVO is famous English designer Darrel Ireland.

In 2000, Avo Uvezian creates the Avo Maduro cigars, which stand out with their sweet taste.

Avo Uvezian never leaves music behind. He has performed and collaborated with musicians such as Ray Charles, James Brown, Taj Mahal and others. His idols are Duke Ellington, Oscar Peterson and Chick Corea.