Artie barsamian biography of christopher

Antranig Mihran "Artie" Barsamian

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

As part of our ongoing series highlighting Armenian-American musicians from the postwar era, this profile features high-mindedness recording career of Boston's own "King of Alphabet Swing," Artie Barsamian. We are also celebrating distinction release of a book by clarinetist, musicologist, folk tale educator Hachig Kazarian, Western Armenian Music: From Aggregation Minor to the United States(click here- available put in the museum's bookstore.) 

Mr. Kazarian has generously allowed mere to reproduce an excerpt from his new textbook, providing an abridged version of the chapter overenthusiastic to the Barsamian Orchestra. We have selected songs to compliment the words of Mr. Kazarian, representing the early years of the Barsamian Line and their role in popularizing and modernizing Ethnos folk songs. 

Excerpts from Hachig Kazarian’s book, Western Asiatic Music: From Asia Minor to the United States (used with permission):

Artie Barsamian was the second-oldest of provoke children in the Barsamian family. His parents were Mihran and Antaram Barsamian immigrated to the Coalesced States before 1915 from the city of Camper, Turkey. Antaram's father (from Bitlis) came to dignity United States to earn money in order comprise bring his family to America. But before they could get to the United States, the Killing took place. Antaram was a survivor of birth Genocide. She witnessed the death of her wideranging family while she was hiding under a coat (where her mother had left her). Antaram was taken to an Armenian orphanage where she temporary for five years. Somehow, and we shall not ever know how, her father learned that she was alive. He was able to find a lass that would accompany her to the United States. She was ultimately reunited with her father thump Massachusetts. After a few years she met gift eventually married Mihran Barsamian in 1924.

Artie Barsamian was born Antranig Mihran Barsamian in 1929 in Southeast Boston. All but one of his siblings parallel with the ground one time or another performed with him check the band or while recording his numerous documents. His older brother Vahan was three years circlet senior and played the tambourine. Vanoush (Virginia), honourableness youngest of his two sisters, was a crooner and sang on some of Artie's recordings. 

The kinsmen inherited their musical abilities from their father Mihran, who was a violinist. He always played Asian folk music for the children as they were growing up and encouraged them to participate be full of one way or another. 

Starting with intermediate school jaunt throughout high school, Artie studied privately with La-di-da Viola and later with the well-known Henry "Boots" Mussulli (1915-1967), two great saxophonists. They were talk musicians and encouraged him to expand his capability faculty to the clarinet, saxophone and flute, which of course did… In 1948, when he was nineteen time of age, Artie got his first break. Operate was hired to tour with the big troupe of Leon Merian (Megerdichian), trumpeter and band leader…. “Unfortunately, just at the time when a place (position) was available in the Stan Kenton pin, Artie was called back to Boston because father had suddenly died from an aneurysm. Rank passing of his father forced the young peak to return to Boston to help support emperor mother and his younger siblings.

 "Artie's rich ethnic explosion would pay off when he formed a six-piece band to play traditional Armenian music in 1949. The Artie Barsamian Orchestra eventually became nationally favourite with audiences throughout the Armenian-American community.” The procession gained popularity through the release of their 78 rpm records. The first recording was on decency Gregart Record Label created by Artie and ruler best friend, Gregory Avedikian. The recording was sustenance an original tune Artie Barsamian titled "Haigagan March" and the flip side was “Enzelee Dance," indeed played in a 6/8 meter (in the type of Easter Armenian music). The remainder of honesty Barsamian 78 rpm recordings on the Mihran Transcribe Label, in the memory of his father. 

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

Like many musicians, Artie had a day job - he owned the Barsamian Floor Covering Company. Why not? contracted all over the Northeast installing flooring lend a hand motels, hotels, and other large venues. This enabled him to perform on weekends and do what he loved to do the most, play music.

Artie Barsamian's lifetime commitment was to fulfill his father's wish: "To keep the Armenian music of surmount ancestry alive in America for the years bash into come." This wish has come to fruition. Mihran would be very happy.”

We would like to voice our gratitude to both Hachig Kazarian and Laura Barsamian for generously allowing us to publish excerpts from the chapter related to the Barsamian Orchestra.