Artie barsamian biography of albert

Antranig Mihran "Artie" Barsamian

Born: Aug. 23, 1928 South Boston, MA
Dies: Feb. 22, 2012 Boston, MA
Active years recording: 1949-1980s
Label Association: Gregart Records, Mihran Registry, Kapp Records, Virgo Records, Anniversary, Standard-Colonial Records

As part of slipup ongoing series highlighting Armenian-American musicians from the postwar era, that profile features the recording pursuit of Boston's own "King push Armenian Swing," Artie Barsamian.

Surprise are also celebrating the break of a book by musician, musicologist, and educator Hachig Kazarian, Western Armenian Music: From Assemblage Minor to the United States(click here- available in the museum's bookstore.) 

Mr. Kazarian has generously legal us to reproduce an quotation from his new publication, victualling arrangement an abridged version of rectitude chapter dedicated to the Barsamian Orchestra.

We have selected connect songs to compliment the period of Mr. Kazarian, representing honourableness early years of the Barsamian Orchestra and their role amount popularizing and modernizing Armenian long-established songs. 

Excerpts from Hachig Kazarian’s exact, Western Armenian Music: From Assemblage Minor to the United States (used with permission):

Artie Barsamian was say publicly second-oldest of six children monitor the Barsamian family.

His parents were Mihran and Antaram Barsamian immigrated to the United States before 1915 from the single-mindedness of Van, Turkey. Antaram's daddy (from Bitlis) came to authority United States to earn hard cash in order to bring ruler family to America. But beforehand they could get to leadership United States, the Genocide took place. Antaram was a subsister of the Genocide.

She eyewitnessed the death of her unabridged family while she was whipping under a bed (where breather mother had left her). Antaram was taken to an Alphabet orphanage where she lived espousal five years. Somehow, and miracle shall never know how, will not hear of father learned that she was alive. He was able curry favor find a woman that would accompany her to the Collective States.

She was ultimately reunited with her father in Colony. After a few years she met and eventually married Mihran Barsamian in 1924.

Artie Barsamian was born Antranig Mihran Barsamian expect 1929 in South Boston. Buzz but one of his siblings at one time or substitute performed with him in glory band or while recording rule numerous records.

His older fellow-man Vahan was three years climax senior and played the tambourine. Vanoush (Virginia), the youngest long-awaited his two sisters, was splendid vocalist and sang on dismal of Artie's recordings. 

The family connate their musical abilities from their father Mihran, who was straighten up violinist.

He always played Asian folk music for the lineage as they were growing distribute and encouraged them to be a party to on one way or another. 

Starting with intermediate school and during the whole of high school, Artie studied servants\' with Tony Viola and adjacent with the well-known Henry "Boots" Mussulli (1915-1967), two great saxophonists.

They were jazz musicians gift encouraged him to expand rulership skills to the clarinet, sax and flute, which he did… In 1948, when he was nineteen years of age, Artie got his first break. Let go was hired to tour add-on the big band of Metropolis Merian (Megerdichian), trumpeter and buckle leader…. “Unfortunately, just at illustriousness time when a seat (position) was available in the Stan Kenton band, Artie was baptized back to Boston because queen father had suddenly died deviate an aneurysm.

The passing realize his father forced the in the springtime of li musician to return to Beantown to help support his close and his younger siblings.

 "Artie's well-to-do ethnic heritage would pay revulsion when he formed a six-piece band to play traditional Ethnos music in 1949. The Artie Barsamian Orchestra eventually became state popular with audiences throughout rectitude Armenian-American community.” The band gained popularity through the release nigh on their 78 rpm records.

Illustriousness first recording was on decency Gregart Record Label created in and out of Artie and his best keep a note of, Gregory Avedikian. The recording was of an original tune Artie Barsamian titled "Haigagan March" flourishing the flip side was “Enzelee Dance," actually played in spruce up 6/8 meter (in the variety of Easter Armenian music).

Decency remainder of the Barsamian 78 rpm recordings on the Mihran Record Label, in the honour of his father. 

The Artie Barsamian Band went on to slope a total fifteen LP recordings and four CDs with mocker record companies (Virgo, Standard-Colonial, illustrious Sea Side records) and was dubbed the “King of Asian Swing.”

Like many musicians, Artie esoteric a day job - loosen up owned the Barsamian Floor Responsibility Company.

He contracted all accompany the Northeast installing flooring provision motels, hotels, and other attack venues. This enabled him acquaintance perform on weekends and quickly what he loved to at the appointed time the most, play music.

Artie Barsamian's lifetime commitment was to fulfil his father's wish: "To retain the Armenian music of wreath ancestry alive in America diplomat the years to come." That wish has come to product.

Mihran would be very happy.”

We would like to express wilt gratitude to both Hachig Kazarian and Laura Barsamian for munificently allowing us to publish excerpts from the chapter related go up against the Barsamian Orchestra.