Daron Vartan Malakian (Armenian: Տարօն/Տարոն Վարդան Մալաքեան), born July 18, 1975, is an Armenian–American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer. He is best known as the guitarist, songwriter, and second vocalist of the rock band System of a Down and as the lead vocalist, lead guitarist, and songwriter of the band Scars on Broadway. Like the rest of the Hollywood-based band System of a Down, he is of Armenian ancestry, but he is the only member to actually have been born inside the United States. Daron Malakian is known for his distinctive playing and is ranked 40th in Loudwire's list of Top 50 Hard Rock + Metal Guitarists Of All Time and #11 in Music Radar's poll, The 20 Greatest Metal Guitarists Ever. He is placed 30th in Guitar World's List of The 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Guitarists of All Time.