The Vosbikian Band
Established: 1939
Years Active: 1939 - Present
Label Association: Independent/Vosbikian Records

This Sound Archive highlights one of the most influential bands in the history of the Armenian community in America. Known and beloved by fans on the East Coast for generations, the Vosbikian Band was the first American-born Armenian dance band, raised outside of their parents’ historic homeland in Armenia and Asia Minor.

The Vosbikian Band started with three brothers, Sam (Sahag) Vosbikian (1919-2012), Mike (Manuel) Vosbikian (1921-2019), and Joe (Hovsep) Vosbikian (1924-2012). They were born in Philadelphia to Bedros and Vartanoush Vosbikian, who were natives of Malatia. Bedros was a clarinet player who performed with his brother Thomas on violin, with other friends and cousins providing vocals and dumbeg (hand drum) beats.

By 1949, after several changes of line-up during the war years, the Vosbikian Band included the following members: Sam Vosbikian (oud, bandleader); Mike Vosbikian (saxophone); Joe Vosbikian (dumbeg, vocals); Jimmy Vosbikian (clarinet, vocals); Albert Santerian (dumbeg); Jirair Hovnanian (vocals); Steve Ajdaharian (piano, vocals); and Steve Terkanian (tambourine), who joined in 1950. 

This band produced eleven 78-rpm recordings between 1949 and 1951, recording songs which have stood the test of time and became classics in the Armenian-American community. These recordings were extremely popular at the time and influential for the melding of traditional Armenian music with big-band swing jazz influences that the first generation of American-born Armenians grew up with. Because the band members parents and mentors played the authentic music from the Armenian villages of Anatolia, the rhythms and overall feel of the Vosbikian Band’s sound remained true to their roots which created a perfect amalgamation of Armenian tradition in an American context. This music could provide the dance rhythms for traditional Armenian “shourch bar” (line dancing) and “tak bar” (solo dancing), while still being exciting for the younger generation and carrying the tradition forward in a big way.

The four songs chosen here represent a cross-section of the Vosbikians’ material. 

“Darikes” is a song unique to the Vosbikians and sung by Joe Vosbikian. Although the recognized “lead singer” of the band was Jimmy Vosbikian, Joe Vosbikian was considered the most soulful singer of the band, who “brought the old intensity into modern Armenian music.” 

The “Oud Solo” showcases Sam Vosbikian’s considerable skills on the instrument and has a beat somewhat reminiscent of a “Halay” or “Chifte Telli.” 

“Sirahar Em” is a song played by the Vosbikians in 10/8 rhythm,  with Jirair Hovnanian as vocalist. 

The final song selected is “Arabkir Bahr” meaning Arabkir Dance, which is the melody of a traditional shourch bar in a 10/8 rhythm. 

By 1963, the sons of the original band members were forming their own “Vosbikian Jrs.” Band, which through many iterations has continued over the years. The Vosbikian Band still performs today, continuing the traditional Vosbikian sound heard here. 

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.