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 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 the recording career of Boston's own "King of Armenian Swing," Artie Barsamian. We are also celebrating the release of a book by clarinetist, musicologist, and educator Hachig Kazarian, Western Armenian Music: From Asia Minor to the United States (click here- available in the museum's bookstore.) 

Mr. Kazarian has generously allowed us to reproduce an excerpt from his new publication, providing an abridged version of the chapter dedicated to the Barsamian Orchestra. We have selected four songs to compliment the words of Mr. Kazarian, representing the early years of the Barsamian Orchestra and their role in popularizing and modernizing Armenian folk songs. 

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

Artie Barsamian was the second-oldest of six children in the Barsamian family. His parents were Mihran and Antaram Barsamian immigrated to the United States before 1915 from the city of Van, Turkey. Antaram's father (from Bitlis) came to the United States to earn money in order to bring his family to America. But before they could get to the United States, the Genocide took place. Antaram was a survivor of the Genocide. She witnessed the death of her entire family while she was hiding under a bed (where her mother had left her). Antaram was taken to an Armenian orphanage where she lived for five years. Somehow, and we shall never know how, her father learned that she was alive. He was able to find a woman that would accompany her to the United States. She was ultimately reunited with her father in Massachusetts. After a few years she met and eventually married Mihran Barsamian in 1924.

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

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

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

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

The Artie Barsamian Band went on to record a total fifteen LP recordings and four CDs with other 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. He contracted all over the Northeast installing flooring for 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 his ancestry alive in America for the years to come." This wish has come to fruition. Mihran would be very happy.”

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

A special thanks to the SJS Charitable Trust for their generous support of our work to digitize and share our collection of 78 rpm records.