Randy Armstrong (musician)

Randy Armstrong (born December 3, 1951) is an American guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, composer and bandleader.[1] 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).[2][3][4][5][6][7] He is the bandleader for the Randy Armstrong Trio and Randy Armstrong World Fusion Ensemble[8] and a founding member of the contemporary jazz/world fusion music group, Unu Mondo.[9][10] He currently performs solo and with Beyond Borders.[11][12][13][1] He has released and appeared on dozens of albums, film, theatre and dance score recordings as a soloist, accompanist and with all his ensembles.[14] 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.[15][16][17][18]

Randy Armstrong
Birth nameRandal Dane Armstrong
BornDecember 3, 1951
Elkins, West Virginia, United States
GenresWorld Fusion, Ethno jazz and New Age
Occupation(s)
  • Guitarist
  • multi-instrumentalist
  • composer
  • bandleader
LabelsPhilo, Rounder, Global Pacific, CBS Associated, Rhino, Domo, UMP, Ellipsis Arts, Navarre, Mesa/Bluemoon
Websitewww.randyarmstrong.com

Armstrong performs from a collection of over 300 instruments from around the world.[19][11][12] He has composed and recorded numerous scores for film,television, theater and dance.[16][20][21][22]

Early life and beginning career

Randy Armstrong was born in Elkins, West Virginia.[23] He grew up in Columbus, Ohio during his school years and graduated from Eastmoor High School in 1969.[24] At the age of 15, he joined the regional rock band The Gears,[25] recording two singles as lead guitarist for the Counterpart and Hillside Record labels. In 1970, Armstrong joined the Rock and R&B band Annie Oakley, co-founded by bassist Mike Shoaf and keyboardist Don Groner with drummer Bob McCarthy and vocalists Eric Younger and Bill Grey. 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. He is a follower of the Baháʼí Faith.[3]

Education

Armstrong graduated with a B.A. in Music Performance and Composition / World Music Studies from Columbia Pacific University in 1983.[26][27] Subsequently, his World Music studies continued at the University of Ghana-Legon.[26] He has studied West African drumming with Babatunde Olatunji and various well-known West African drummers.[28][29]

Musical career

Do’a/Do’ah (1974–1991)

In 1973, Armstrong moved to New Hampshire and in 1974,[30] Armstrong met classically trained flute player Ken LaRoche and formed the music group Do’a (a Persian word meaning "a call to prayer and meditation").[31][32][33] 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.[34]

Do’a toured and performed their eclectic blend of World Fusion and New Age music.[31][35]

In 1989, they had a Top 10 hit in the Billboard New Age Music chart with the album World Dance on the Global Pacific/CBS Associated label.[15][16]

Unu Mondo (1992–1998)

In 1992, Randy Armstrong co-founded the Contemporary Jazz / World Fusion music group, UNU MONDO with bassist/composer Volker Nahrmann.[1][36][37][38] In 1994 their album, Hand in Hand[39] was released and featured vocals from Spanish singer Olga Román,[13] saxophone player Charlie Jennison and Brazilian drummer, Henrique De Almeida.[40] 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.[37]

Randy Armstrong Trio and other groups (1998–2015)

In 1998 through 2000, Randy Armstrong was commissioned to score and record the original soundtrack for the four-part PBS Primetime Series, Dinner on the Diner, filmed in South Africa, Spain, Scotland and Southeast Asia (Thailand and Malaysia) and produced by British filmmaker Jonathan Guilbert.[23][41][42][43] The double-CD soundtrack was released by Ellipsis Arts in 2000 in a two-CD box set. 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.[44][45][46]

Beyond Borders (2015–present)

In 2015, Randy 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.[13][47]

Teaching artist and music educator

Randy Armstrong is also active in arts education in New Hampshire, where he currently resides.[1][48][49]

Randy Armstrong was the director of the African Drumming and World Percussion Ensemble[50] and instructor of North Indian sitar and tabla at Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire from 1991 to 2020.[26][51][52] Since 2002, he has taught graduate courses at Plymouth State University. He received the 2017 New Hampshire Governor's Arts Award for Arts Education[53][54] and was an artist in residence with the Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra in 2017.[55][56]

Discography

Solo and Ensembles
Album Title Artist or Band Year Label
Sooner or Later/Come Back to Me The Gears 1967 Counterpart
Feel Right/Explanation The Gears 1968 Hillside
Light Upon Light Do’a- Randy Armstrong & Ken LaRoche 1977 Philo/Rounder
Ornament of Hope Do’a- Randy Armstrong & Ken LaRoche 1979 Philo/Rounder
Ancient Beauty Do’a- Randy Armstrong & Ken LaRoche 1981 Philo/Rounder
Companions Do’a World Music Ensemble 1984 Philo/Rounder
Do’a- The Early Years Randy Armstrong & Ken LaRoche 1987 Rounder
World Dance Do’ah 1989 Global Pacific/CBS-Mesa/Bluemoon
One World Unu Mondo - Randy Armstrong & Volker Nahrmann 1992 UMP Records
Hand in Hand Unu Mondo - Randy Armstrong & Volker Nahrmann 1994 Global Pacific/Navarre
World Tales Vol. 1 Armstrong & Aichele 1996 UMP Records
Dinner on the Diner: 2 CD Boxset Randy Armstrong 2000 Ellipsis Arts/Rykodisc
No Regrets Randy Armstrong 2002 UMP Records
No Regrets Randy Armstrong 2003 Domo Records
World Tales Vol. 2   Armstrong & Aichele 2007 UMP Records
LEGACY Complete Works: 5 CD Boxset featuring Do’a Randy Armstrong & Ken Laroche 2008 UMP Records
Hamlet, Prince of Denmark (Original Score) Randy Armstrong 2009 UMP Records
Black Thunder Black Thunder Singers with Randy Armstrong & Volker Nahrmann 2010 UMP Records
Beyond Borders Randy Armstrong & Volker Nahrmann 2015 UMP Records
The Conference of the Birds (Original Score) Randy Armstrong 2016 UMP Records
Together Apart Randy Armstrong 2020 UMP Records

Compilations
Album Artist or Band Year Label
Global Voyage Do’ah 1988 Global Pacific
Enlightened Minds Unu Mondo 1996 Global Pacific/Rhino
World Visions-The Rhythms Unu Mondo 1996 Global Pacific/Navarre
Ageless Pathways Unu Mondo 1996 Global Pacific/Navarre
Sound Healers (4 CD Boxset) Randy Armstrong 1997 Relaxation Company
Healing Music Project Vol. 3 Randy Armstrong 2000 Relaxation Company
Journey to the Heart Unu Mondo 2002 Domo Records
Music for the Spirit Randy Armstrong 2002 Domo Records
Seacoast Guitarists - Vol. 1 Randy Armstrong 2002 Seacoast Guitar Society
Domo 10th Anniversary Collection Randy Armstrong 2004 Domo Records
Tsunami Relief Project: A Musical Compilation Randy Armstrong 2005 Atta Girl Records
Music for Yoga Randy Armstrong 2007 Domo Records
Green Measures: Compilation / Artists for the Environment Randy Armstrong 2008 Atta Girl Records

Collaborations/Accompanist
Album Year Label
Alleluia / Kyrie, On Wings of Song, Robert Gass Director 1987 Spring Hill Music
From the Goddess / O Great Spirit, On Wings of Song, Robert Gass Director 1988 Spring Hill Music
Heart of Perfect Wisdom , On Wings of Song, Robert Gass Director 1990 Spring Hill Music
Shri Ram, On Wings of Song, Robert Gass Director 1991 Spring Hill Music
Songs of Children , Phillips Exeter Concert Choir / Stephen Kushner, Director 1994 Phillips Exeter Academy
Drone Zone by Kay Garner 1996 Relaxation/Intuition
My Spirit Sang All Day, Phillips Exeter Concert Choir / Stephen Kushner, Director 1998 Phillips Exeter Academy
Chant,  On Wings of Song, Robert Gass Director 1999 Spring Hill Music
Enchanted, On Wings of Song, Robert Gass Director 2000 Spring Hill Music
Dinner on the Diner – South Africa Disc 1, Phillips Exeter Concert Choir / Stephen Kushner, Director 2000 Ellipsis Arts
Awakening, On Wings of Song, Robert Gass Director 2003 Spring Hill Music
Sing On, Sing On, Sing On, Phillips Exeter Concert Choir / Stephen Kushner, Director 2003 Phillips Exeter Academy
Bliss - Om Namaha Shivaya, On Wings of Song, Robert Gass Director 2005 Spring Hill Music
O Hear My Song, Voices from the Heart / Joanne Connolly, Director 2005 Heart
Don’t Wanna Wait for Heaven, Voices from the Heart / Joanne Connolly, Director 2012 Heart
The Peacemakers, Carl Jenkins, Composer , Manchester Choral Society and Orchestra / Dan Perkins, Director 2012 MCS
On Watch the Stars, Con Tutti / Joanne Connolly, Director 2013 Con Tutti
Keep On Moving Forward, Con Tutti / Joanne Connolly, Director 2014 Con Tutti

References
  1. "Randy Armstrong Feature Article". The Boston Globe. January 31, 1999. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
  2. Heckman, Don. "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 Portsmouth NH". 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.
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  24. "Travelogue soundtrack hits the rail on the head". The Columbus Dispatch. June 1, 2000. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
  25. "Buckeye Beat - Gears". buckeyebeat.com. Retrieved 2021-01-19.
  26. "Randy Armstrong". Phillips Exeter Academy. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
  27. "Columbia Pacific University" (PDF). 1983. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
  28. "Randy Armstrong". bahaimusicstore.com. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
  29. "Randy Armstrong and Genevieve Aichele". Retrieved 2020-12-05.
  30. Kanner, Matt (September 2, 2008). "Randy Armstrong "an undying thirst"". WIRE. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
  31. "DO'AH in Concert". The Great American Music Hall Playbill. April 9, 1989. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
  32. "DO'AH World Dance Review". Dirty Linen Magazine Issue No. 27. 1990. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
  33. "DOAH Farewell Concert". Boston Globe. May 10, 1991. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
  34. "Do'a - Randy Armstrong & Ken LaRoche in Concert". Boston Globe. October 1983. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
  35. "Doa-Randy Armstrong & Ken LaRoche". Bottom Line NYC-DOAH World Dance Concert. December 5, 1988. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
  36. "Unu Mondo in Concert". Boston Globe Calendar. June 30, 1996. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
  37. "Unu Mondo in Concert". Post-Star (New York). May 7, 1993. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
  38. "Unu Mondo in Concert 8th Step Albany New York". The Post-Star. Sep 16, 1992. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
  39. "Unu Mondo - Randy Armstrong & Volker Nahrmann - Hand in Hand". bahaimusicstore.com. 1994. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
  40. "Henrique De Almeida". Berklee College of Music. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
  41. "Randy Armstrong Cooks Up International Sounds For Dinner". MTV. 2000-05-31. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
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  43. "Randy Armstrong - Dinner on the Diner". Boston Globe. May 21, 2000. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
  44. "Armstrong has strong release". The Union Reader. 2003. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
  45. "No Regrets Review-DOMO Records". Jam Music Magazine. 2003. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
  46. "Randy Armstrong takes on new friends for trio". Hampton Union Newspaper. November 15, 2002. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
  47. "Beyond Borders Concert". Playbill. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
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  49. "Randy Armstrong Feature Article - Drumming". Boston Sunday Globe. January 24, 1999. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
  50. "Enthusiasm for rhythms shows growth". Boston Globe. Jan 24, 1999. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
  51. "Fosters". Retrieved 2020-12-05.
  52. "No Regrets". Heart of New Hampshire Magazine. 2006. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
  53. "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.
  54. "2017 Governor's Arts Awards". New Hampshire State Council on the Arts. 2017. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
  55. "Armstrong to be PSO artist-in-residence". Fosters. Jul 20, 2017. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
  56. "Randy Armstrong - Artist in Residence". Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra. 2018. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
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