The Gomidas Band
Established: Philadelphia
Years Active: 1951-1967
Label Associations: Gomidas Records, Portraits Recordings, Roulette, Cavalier Records

The post-WWII Armenian-American bands have been a recurring theme here at the Sound Archive. These sons of immigrants gave new impetus to the Armenian dance culture in the Diaspora by blending their Anatolian roots with the brash sounds of American jazz, giving rise to “kef music.” 

This history is intertwined with the story of the Gomidas Band — which is largely the story of Henry “Hank” Mardigian. Mardigian was born and raised in Philadelphia to a family from Malatia. He first apprenticed under musician Sam Vosbikian as a fill-in banjo player and then saxophone player in the Vosbikian Band, while two of the members were off fighting in WWII. In 1949, he was approached by Johnny Kitabjian, a friend from AYF, to help him with a band he was forming. This band became the Gomidas Band.

By 1951, the band members were: Hank Mardigian, leader, saxophone, mandolin; George Mgrdichian, oud; Roupen Gureghian, clarinet; Roger Mgrdichian, dumbeg and vocals; and George Terkanian, dumbeg and vocals.

The first Gomidas Band recordings, included here, were five discs (10 songs) pressed on 78 rpm around 1952. In addition to the primary band members, guest singers were Walter Bandazian (an early band member on violin), Alice Arzoomanian, and George Mazmanian. Throughout the 1950s, the Gomidas Band gained great popularity, playing major youth events such as the 20th Anniversary of the AYF in New York City in 1953, and the 8th annual ACYOA Convention in Troy, NY, in 1954. 

Not only did the band gain a reputation, but the oudist, George Mgrdichian, became known as one of the most promising young players of the instrument in the country. He even gained the attention of Udi Hrant, while visiting from Istanbul. In addition to Mgrdichian’s oud virtuosity, the unique arrangements the band used and Hank Mardigian’s switching between saxophone and mandolin gave the group a different sound. 

We can hear that unique sound in the four selections chosen here. Many of the songs exemplify the Gomidas Band’s technique of taking classic songs, originally meant to be played in 6/8 rhythm, and transforming them into the “shourch  bar” rhythm of 10/8, a style they helped popularize. 

One of their most enduring songs in this style was “Golkhozi Aghchig,” originally a piece of 1930s Soviet Communist propaganda that extolled the virtues of an Armenian girl who lives on a Kolkhoz (or Stalinist collective farm) and is the “hero of our new age.” Most likely, the song was introduced to the group by oudist-singer George Kalayjian, and it was the Gomidas Band that decided to play “Golkhozi Aghchig” in the loping 10/8 shourch bar (line dance) rhythm that was typical in most of Western Armenia. It is likely that oudist George Mgrdichian did the arrangement, and his brother Roger Mgrdichian is singing the vocals on the track. 

After making 5 LPs in addition to their 78rpm discs, and playing innumerable engagements, the group broke up in 1967, with Hank retiring, while George pursued his prolific solo career. The band's work spanned over a decade, leaving an indelible mark on kef music.

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.