Misplaced Pages

Randy Armstrong
Background information
Birth name	Randal Dane Armstrong
Born	(1951-12-03) December 3, 1951 (age 73) Elkins, West Virginia, United States
Genres	World Fusion, Ethno jazz and New Age Musician guitarist composer bandleader
Labels	Philo, Rounder, Global Pacific, CBS Associated, Rhino, Domo, UMP, Ellipsis Arts, Navarre, Mesa/Bluemoon
Website	www.randyarmstrong.com

Randy Armstrong (born December 3, 1951) is an American musician, guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, composer, and bandleader. Armstrong plays mainly world fusion, ethno jazz and new age music and was a founding member of Do’a / Do’a World Music Ensemble (aka Do’ah). He is the bandleader for the Randy Armstrong Trio and Randy Armstrong World Fusion Ensemble and a founding member of the contemporary jazz/world fusion music group, Unu Mondo. He currently performs solo and with Beyond Borders. He has released and appeared on dozens of albums, film, theatre and dance score recordings as a soloist, accompanist and with all his ensembles. He made the Top 10 of the Billboard New Age Music Charts, with Do’ah's album, World Dance on the Global Pacific/CBS Associated label.

Armstrong performs from a collection of over 300 instruments from around the world. He has composed and recorded numerous scores for film, television, theater and dance.

Early life

Armstrong was born in Elkins, West Virginia. He grew up in Columbus, Ohio during his school years and graduated from Eastmoor High School in 1969. He is a follower of the Baháʼí Faith.

Education

Armstrong graduated with a B.A. in Music Performance and Composition / World Music Studies from Columbia Pacific University in 1983. Subsequently, his World Music studies continued at the University of Ghana-Legon. He has studied West African drumming with Babatunde Olatunji and various other West African drummers.

Musical career

Career beginnings

At the age of 15, Armstrong joined the regional rock band The Gears, recording two singles under the Counterpart and Hillside Record labels, respectively. Armstrong also joined and toured with the rock and R&B band Annie Oakley.

During the late 60's and early 70's, Armstrong was greatly influenced by the civil and equal rights movements and anti-Vietnam War demonstrations.

Do’a/Do’ah (1974–1991)

In 1973, Armstrong moved to New Hampshire and in 1974, met classically trained flute player Ken LaRoche and with him formed the music group Do’a (a Persian word meaning "a call to prayer and meditation"). Armstrong and LaRoche composed and recorded music that fused western classical, jazz and folk music traditions with music influences and instruments around the world. They were signed to a four-album contract with Philo Records distributed by Rounder Records.

In 1986, Do’a World Music Ensemble received official recognition from the United Nations for their concert tour promoting the International Year of Peace.

In 1989, their album World Dance, which was published on the Global Pacific/CBS Associated label, reached the Top 10 on the Billboard chart for New Age music.

Unu Mondo (1992–1998)

In 1992, Armstrong co-founded the Contemporary Jazz / World Fusion music group, Unu Mondo with bassist and composer Volker Nahrmann. In 1994 their album, Hand in Hand was released and featured vocals from Spanish singer Olga Román, saxophone player Charlie Jennison and Brazilian drummer, Henrique De Almeida. Unu Mondo appeared on the compilation albums, World Visions – The Rhythms, Ageless Pathway and Enlightened Minds released by Global Pacific Records in 1996. The ensemble toured throughout United States.

Randy Armstrong Trio and other groups (1998–2015)

In 1998 through 2000, Armstrong was commissioned to score and record the original soundtrack for the PBS television series, Dinner on the Diner, filmed in South Africa, Spain, Scotland and Southeast Asia (Thailand and Malaysia). Armstrong’s soundtrack for the series was released by Ellipsis Arts in 2000. After returning from a trip to Italy in 2001, Armstrong recorded his solo guitar album, No Regrets, originally released by UMP Records in 2002 and subsequently re-released by the Los Angeles-based Domo Record label in 2003.

Armstrong formed the Randy Armstrong Trio and World Fusion Ensemble with fellow musicians bassist Volker Nahrmann; drummer Jose Roman Duque; African drummer/dancer Theo Nii Martey and Shamou on world percussion and vocals.

Beyond Borders (2015–present)

In 2015, Armstrong formed the Beyond Borders octet with bassist, keyboardist and composer Volker Nahrmann. They recorded the album Beyond Borders, which was released on the UMP label.

The album Beyond Borders was nominated for Best World Album by the 2015 ZMR Music Awards.

After returning from a tour in South Africa with the all-women’s chorus, Voices From The Heart in 2018, Armstrong commissioned a handmade set of South African marimbas and formed Randy Armstrong and WorldBeat Marimba in 2019.

In 2023, Randy Armstrong & WorldBeat Marimba received the Best of NH 2023 “Ambassadors of Peace” award by New Hampshire Magazine.

Career in music education

Armstrong is also active in arts education in New Hampshire, where he currently resides.

He has served as an Arts Councilor for the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts from 2003 to 2012 appointed by Governor Craig Benson and reappointed by Governor John Lynch. Armstrong also served on the board of directors of the New Hampshire Alliance for Arts Education. After the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998, Armstrong was selected as an artist representative to attend a Cultural Trade Mission to Ireland, Northern Ireland and England sponsored by Governor Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire and in May 2005 attended a Curatorial Research trip on Son Jarocho music in Xalapa and Veracruz, Mexico for the Boston based New England Foundation for the Arts.

Armstrong was the director of the African Drumming and World Percussion Ensemble and instructor of North Indian sitar and tabla at Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire from 1991 to 2020. Since 2002, he has taught graduate courses at Plymouth State University. He received the 2017 New Hampshire Governor's Arts Award for Arts Education and was an artist in residence with the Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra in 2017-2018.

Armstrong is on the juried artist rosters of the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts for Arts Education and Arts In Health.

Armstrong also performs and conducts artist-in-residence programs with Genevieve Aichele, founder of the New Hampshire Theater Project. They have released two storytelling and music albums, World Tales Volume 1 in 1996 and World Tales Volume 2 in 2007 on the UMP label.

Discography

Solo and Ensembles

Compilations

Collaborations/Accompanist

Selected Film, Video, Television Scores

Selected Theatre & Dance Scores

References

1. ^ "Randy Armstrong Feature Article". The Boston Globe. January 31, 1999. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
2. Heckman, Don (4 April 1989). "DO'AH's Global Ecleticism". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
3. ^ "Do'a - Randy Armstrong and Ken LaRoche". 9 Star Media. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
4. Heckman, Don (April 4, 1989). "DO'AH Music Review". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
5. "Do'ah Global Electicism". Los Angeles Times. April 4, 1989. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
6. "Boston Globe". Jan 24, 1999. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
7. "DO'AH World Dance Review". Dirty Linen Magazine. 1990. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
8. "The Wire". January 17, 2007. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
9. "Unu Mondo" (PDF). The Union Leader. October 2016. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
10. "Unu Mondo in Concert Harrisburg Community College". The Sentinel. Nov 6, 1992. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
11. ^ "Randy Armstrong". Portsmouth. Apr 16, 2016. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
12. ^ Wisecarver, Meagan (Oct 26, 2017). "Randy Armstrong's new Beyond Borders band to perform Oct. 28". seacoastonline.com. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
13. ^ "Randy Armstrong & Volker Nahrmann". MWE3. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
14. "A Global". seacoastonline.com. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
15. ^ "New Age Albums". Billboard. April 22, 1989. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
16. ^ "Randy Armstrong: Musician of the World". New Hampshire Magazine. August 2000. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
17. "DO'AH World Dance". Billboard Vol. 101 No. 22. June 3, 1989. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
18. "Billboard Top New Age Albums: Do'ah World Dance #7". Philadelphia Inquirer. May 4, 1989. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
19. "300 Musical Instruments in the House!". Priya Features. August 13, 2016. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
20. ^ "Seven Mysteries of Life - Original Score by Randy Armstrong" (PDF). Touchstone Theater PlayBill. 1988. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
21. "Dinner on the Diner". Jam Magazine. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
22. "The Clean House - Randy Armstrong". EDGE-Seacoastonline. April 18, 2018. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
23. ^ "Randy Armstrong". Sunday Gazette-Mail. May 28, 2000. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
24. "Travelogue soundtrack hits the rail on the head". The Columbus Dispatch. June 1, 2000. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
25. ^ "Randy Armstrong". Phillips Exeter Academy. 19 October 2020. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
26. "Columbia Pacific University" (PDF). 1983. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
27. "Randy Armstrong". bahaimusicstore.com. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
28. ^ "Randy Armstrong and Genevieve Aichele". Retrieved 2020-12-05.
29. "Buckeye Beat - Gears". buckeyebeat.com. Retrieved 2021-01-19.
30. "Baha'i News -- East meets West". bahai-library.com. Retrieved 2022-11-11.
31. Kanner, Matt (September 2, 2008). "Randy Armstrong "an undying thirst"". Wire. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
32. ^ "DO'AH in Concert". The Great American Music Hall Playbill. April 9, 1989. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
33. "DO'AH World Dance Review". Dirty Linen Magazine Issue No. 27. 1990. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
34. "DOAH Farewell Concert". Boston Globe. May 10, 1991. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
35. "Do'a - Randy Armstrong & Ken LaRoche in Concert". Boston Globe. October 1983. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
36. "Doa-Randy Armstrong & Ken LaRoche". Bottom Line NYC-DOAH World Dance Concert. December 5, 1988. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
37. "United Nations International Year of Peace" (PDF). January 16, 1986. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
38. "9 Star Media - The Best In Baha'i Inspired Media". 9 Star Media. Retrieved 2021-08-27.
39. "Do'Ah World Dance Review - Issue No. 27 Winter 1989-90". Issuu. 19 October 2020. Retrieved 2021-08-27.
40. Grady, John (April 19, 1987). "A musical kaleidoscope" (PDF). New Hampshire Seacoast. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
41. "Unu Mondo in Concert". Boston Globe Calendar. June 30, 1996. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
42. ^ "Unu Mondo in Concert". Post-Star (New York). May 7, 1993. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
43. "Unu Mondo in Concert 8th Step Albany New York". The Post-Star. Sep 16, 1992. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
44. "Unu Mondo - Randy Armstrong & Volker Nahrmann - Hand in Hand". bahaimusicstore.com. 1994. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
45. "Henrique De Almeida". Berklee College of Music. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
46. "Randy Armstrong Cooks Up International Sounds For Dinner". MTV. 2000-05-31. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
47. "Randy Armstrong - Dinner on the Diner". Boston Globe. May 21, 2000. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
48. "Randy Armstrong - Dinner on the Diner". Boston Globe. May 21, 2000. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
49. Tarte, Bob. "Randy Armstrong". Miami New Times. Retrieved 2022-12-10.
50. "Armstrong has strong release". The Union Reader. 2003. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
51. "No Regrets Review-DOMO Records". Jam Music Magazine. 2003. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
52. ^ "Randy Armstrong takes on new friends for trio". Hampton Union Newspaper. November 15, 2002. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
53. "Malian singer Fatoumata Diawara coming to The Music Hall to benefit RAIN". seacoastonline.com. Retrieved 2021-04-07.
54. Hislop, Christopher. "Beyond Borders concert presents Randy Armstrong, Volker Nahrmann and 8 international artists". Portsmouth Herald. Retrieved 2022-06-16.
55. "Beyond Borders Concert". Playbill. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
56. "Armstrong to be PSO artist-in-residence". fosters.com. Retrieved 2021-02-18.
57. "Local Event: WorldBeat Marimba and the Stairwells with Randy Armstrong and Ben". Portsmouth, NH Patch. 2020-01-27. Retrieved 2021-02-26.
58. "Best of NH 2023 Readers' Poll and Editor's Pick Winners". New Hampshire Magazine. 2023-04-06. Retrieved 2023-09-13.
59. "Randy Armstrong - Artist in Residence". Concord Monitor Sunday Magazine. October 9, 1994. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
60. "Randy Armstrong Feature Article - Drumming". Boston Sunday Globe. January 24, 1999. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
61. ^ "Governor's Arts Awards set for Nov. 1 at NH Institute of Art, NH Department of Natural and Cultural Resources". www.nh.gov. Retrieved 2021-02-18.
62. Sander, Craig. "Creating a beat on a different drum". Portsmouth Herald. Retrieved 2022-11-11.
63. "Armstrong & Aichele - About". www.armstrongandaichele.com. Retrieved 2021-02-18.
64. "Enthusiasm for rhythms shows growth". Boston Globe. Jan 24, 1999. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
65. "Fosters". Retrieved 2020-12-05.
66. "No Regrets". Heart of New Hampshire Magazine. 2006. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
67. Wisecarver, Meagan. "'A vibrant world of creativity'". Foster's Daily Democrat. Retrieved 2022-11-11.
68. Staff Writer. "Randy Armstrong concert to benefit Voices from the Heart's trip to Cuba". Portsmouth Herald. Retrieved 2022-11-11.
69. "Governor's Arts Awards set for Nov. 1 at NH Institute of Art". New Hampshire Department of Cultural Resources. October 2, 2017. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
70. "2017 Governor's Arts Awards". New Hampshire State Council on the Arts. 2017. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
71. "Armstrong to be PSO artist-in-residence". Fosters. Jul 20, 2017. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
72. "Randy Armstrong - Artist in Residence". Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra. 2018. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
73. "NH Arts - Arts in Health Care Directory". 2020-10-18. Archived from the original on 2020-10-18. Retrieved 2021-02-18.
74. "Randy Armstrong". CreativeGround. Retrieved 2021-02-18.
75. "Instruments of Peace". New Hampshire Magazine. 2021-12-17. Retrieved 2022-11-11.
76. "World Tales Vol. 1 - Armstrong-Aichele - November 1, 1997". Issuu. 19 October 2020. Retrieved 2021-02-18.
77. "Together Again". Together Again. Retrieved 2021-08-27.
78. Mast making for the king., Durham, N.H.: University of New Hampshire, 1977, OCLC 25363753, retrieved 2021-02-24
79. Samson, Gary; Edwards, John (1997). Lotte Jacobi, a film portrait. OCLC 1042088207.
80. New Hampshire writers and the small town., Durham, N.H.: University of New Hampshire, 1980, OCLC 25363769, retrieved 2021-02-24
81. Brecht, Lyle; Brecht, Laura (1981), Affluent effluent, United States of America, OCLC 786489368, retrieved 2021-02-24{{citation}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
82. White Mountains: a cultural view., Durham, N.H.: University of New Hampshire, 1985, OCLC 25306147, retrieved 2021-02-24
83. Emigration: [a Franco-American experience., Durham, N.H.: University of New Hampshire, 1981, OCLC 25363793, retrieved 2021-02-24
84. MTV News Staff. "Randy Armstrong Cooks Up International Sounds For Dinner". MTV News. Retrieved 2021-02-24.
85. "The Forum: News from the Towns around Pawtuckaway". forumhome.org. Retrieved 2021-02-24.
86. Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: Dalai Lama - Tom Lantos Human Rights Award - Music by Do'a - Randy Armstrong & Ken LaRoche. YouTube.
87. Keyes, Bob. "Lee native's film addressing slavery to screen at NHFF". fosters.com. Retrieved 2021-02-24.
88. "9 Degrees". Film Society of MSP. Retrieved 2021-02-24.
89. ^ "Production History | PONTINE THEATRE". www.pontine.org. Retrieved 2021-02-24.
90. "2005 Ananse Director's Note – Educational Theatre Collaborative". Retrieved 2021-02-24.
91. "Youth Repertory Company presents Hamlet". www.nhtheatreproject.org. Retrieved 2021-02-24.
92. "PSO to perform Barber, Hindemith and 'Shanti Om' June 10". fosters.com. Retrieved 2021-02-24.
93. "CD/DVD Reviews". mwe3.com. Retrieved 2021-02-24.
94. "Secret Agent Woman | British Spy | Noor Inayat Khan | WWII | Sufi Mystic | Silicon Valley | Metroactive". www.metroactive.com. Retrieved 2021-02-25.
95. "Threshold Stage Company to present 'The Clean House' April 13 to 29". fosters.com. Retrieved 2021-02-24.
96. McCartin, Jeanné. "'Shelter,' a One Billion Rising event, to benefit Haven NH Feb. 11". seacoastonline.com. Retrieved 2021-02-24.
97. Kane, Karla. "'The Case of the Vanishing Firefish' combines environmental themes with a mindbending voyage". www.almanacnews.com. Retrieved 2021-02-24.
98. "Phillips Exeter Dance Highlights 2019-20". YouTube.
99. Rossi, Jean (2022-07-12). "Choose Love Musical". Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement. Retrieved 2023-01-24.
100. "CreativeGround". www.creativeground.org. Retrieved 2023-01-24.

External links

• Official website

• Living people
• 1951 births
• American male guitarists
• American male composers
• American multi-instrumentalists
• Musicians from West Virginia
• Columbia Pacific University alumni
• American Bahá'ís
• 20th-century Bahá'ís
• 21st-century Bahá'ís
• People from Elkins, West Virginia
• American jazz musicians