Randy Armstrong (born ) 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 groups, Unu Mondo & Beyond Borders. He currently performs solo and with his World Fusion Ensemble. 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 +Album or Single TitleArtist or BandYearLabelSooner or Later/Come Back to Me The Gears1967CounterpartFeel Right/ExplanationThe Gears1968HillsideLight Upon Light Do’a- Randy Armstrong & Ken LaRoche1977Philo/RounderOrnament of HopeDo’a- Randy Armstrong & Ken LaRoche1979Philo/RounderAncient Beauty Do’a- Randy Armstrong & Ken LaRoche1981Philo/RounderCompanions of the Crimson ArkDo’a World Music Ensemble1984Philo/RounderDo’a- The Early Years Randy Armstrong & Ken LaRoche1987RounderWorld Dance Do’ah1989Global Pacific/CBS-Mesa/BluemoonOne World Unu Mondo - Randy Armstrong & Volker Nahrmann1992UMP RecordsHand in Hand Unu Mondo - Randy Armstrong & Volker Nahrmann1994Global Pacific/NavarreWorld Tales Vol. 1Armstrong & Aichele 1996UMP RecordsDinner on the Diner: 2 CD BoxsetRandy Armstrong2000Ellipsis Arts/RykodiscNo Regrets Randy Armstrong2002UMP RecordsNo Regrets Randy Armstrong2003Domo RecordsWorld Tales Vol. 2 Armstrong & Aichele 2007UMP RecordsLEGACY Complete Works: 5 CD Boxset featuring Do’aRandy Armstrong & Ken Laroche2008UMP RecordsHamlet, Prince of Denmark (Original Score)Randy Armstrong2009UMP RecordsBlack Thunder Black Thunder Singers with Randy Armstrong & Volker Nahrmann2010UMP RecordsBeyond BordersRandy Armstrong & Volker Nahrmann2015UMP RecordsThe Conference of the Birds (Original Score)Randy Armstrong2016UMP RecordsTogether Apart Randy Armstrong2020UMP RecordsTogether AgainRandy Armstrong2021UMP RecordsNhemamusasa Randy Armstrong & WorldBeat Marimba2021UMP RecordsBaba MudikiRandy Armstrong & WorldBeat Marimba2022UMP RecordsSiyahamba Randy Armstrong & WorldBeat Marimba2022UMP RecordsZiya Buya Africa Randy Armstrong & WorldBeat Marimba2023UMP RecordsAmaxoxoRandy Armstrong & WorldBeat Marimba2024UMP RecordsEchoes of TomorrowRandy Armstrong2025UMP Records
Compilations +AlbumArtist or BandYearLabelGlobal Voyage Do’ah1988Global PacificEnlightened Minds Unu Mondo1996Global Pacific/RhinoWorld Visions-The Rhythms Unu Mondo1996Global Pacific/NavarreAgeless PathwaysUnu Mondo1996Global Pacific/NavarreSound Healers (4 CD Boxset) Randy Armstrong1997Relaxation CompanyHealing Music Project Vol. 3 Randy Armstrong2000Relaxation CompanyJourney to the Heart Unu Mondo2002Domo RecordsMusic for the Spirit Randy Armstrong2002Domo RecordsSeacoast Guitarists - Vol. 1Randy Armstrong2002Seacoast Guitar SocietyDomo 10th Anniversary CollectionRandy Armstrong2004Domo RecordsTsunami Relief Project: A Musical CompilationRandy Armstrong2005Atta Girl RecordsMusic for Yoga Randy Armstrong2007Domo RecordsGreen Measures: Compilation / Artists for the Environment Randy Armstrong2008Atta Girl Records
Collaborations/Accompanist +AlbumYearLabelAlleluia / Kyrie, On Wings of Song, Robert Gass Director1987Spring Hill MusicFrom the Goddess / O Great Spirit, On Wings of Song, Robert Gass Director1988Spring Hill MusicHeart of Perfect Wisdom, On Wings of Song, Robert Gass Director1990Spring Hill MusicShri Ram, On Wings of Song, Robert Gass Director1991Spring Hill MusicSongs of Children, Phillips Exeter Concert Choir / Stephen Kushner, Director1994Phillips Exeter AcademyDrone Zone by Kay Garner1996Relaxation/Intuition My Spirit Sang All Day, Phillips Exeter Concert Choir / Stephen Kushner, Director1998Phillips Exeter AcademyChant, On Wings of Song, Robert Gass Director1999Spring Hill MusicEnchanted, On Wings of Song, Robert Gass Director2000Spring Hill MusicDinner on the Diner – South Africa Disc 1, Phillips Exeter Concert Choir / Stephen Kushner, Director2000Ellipsis ArtsAwakening, On Wings of Song, Robert Gass Director2003Spring Hill MusicSing On, Sing On, Sing On, Phillips Exeter Concert Choir / Stephen Kushner, Director2003Phillips Exeter AcademyBliss - Om Namaha Shivaya, On Wings of Song, Robert Gass Director2005Spring Hill MusicO Hear My Song, Voices from the Heart / Joanne Connolly, Director2005HeartDon’t Wanna Wait for Heaven, Voices from the Heart / Joanne Connolly, Director2012HeartThe Peacemakers, Carl Jenkins, Composer, Manchester Choral Society and Orchestra / Dan Perkins, Director2012MCSOn Watch the Stars, Con Tutti / Joanne Connolly, Director2013Con TuttiKeep On Moving Forward, Con Tutti / Joanne Connolly, Director2014Con Tutti
Selected Film, Video, Television Scores +FilmYearCommentsMast Making for the King 1977Documentary FilmLotte Jacobi: A Film Portrait 1980Documentary FilmNew Hampshire Writers and the Small Town1980Documentary FilmAffluent Effluent 1980Documentary FilmThe White Mountains: A Cultural View 1981Documentary FilmEmigration: A Franco American Experience1981Documentary FilmDinner on the Dinner2000PBS Four-Part Series – South Africa / Scotland / Spain / Southeast AsiaA League of Our Own: NH and The American Craft Movement 2007Documentary FilmThe Tom Lantos Human Rights Award: The Dalai LamaArchived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: 2009Documentary FilmTelling the Story of Slavery: The New Yorker2016Produced by Vacationland Studios9 Degrees2019Produced by Vacationland Studios/Tribeca Films/23andMe
Selected Theatre & Dance Scores