A Brief History

Summary:

T.J. Armand is an award-winning Turkish-American writer, composer, and producer with a diverse artistic portfolio spanning three decades. 

Mentored by Grammy-winning producer Arif Mardin, Armand received a full-scholarship from Berklee College of Music in 1990. As a producer and concert

promoter in the U.S., he worked with many artists including Chaka Khan, The Manhattan Transfer, The Queen’s Six, and Tony nominee Mary Bridget Davies. Notably, he co-founded Armand and Paiva LLC with his partner Carl H. Paiva, specializing and investing in stage productions (such as The Great Comet, Merrily We Roll Along, Sama, and Virginia Woolf’s A Room of One’s Own). In 2017, he established his music publishing company, TJ Armand Music, LLC.

Full Bio: 

Award-winning Turkish-American songwriter, producer and writer TJ Armand is a protege of the late Grammy Award-winning producer Arif Mardin and a full-scholarship recipient from Berklee College of Music. Mardin also sponsored Armand's first album production, Cycle Of A Revolution and was a key influence throughout Armand's early music career. Armand was also a recipient of the "genius" visa (E1) from the U.S. Government before he became an American citizen. 

Having honed his craft under Mr. Mardin's tutelage at Atlantic Records, TJ Armand assisted Mardin in iconic recording projects of legendary artists such as Bette Midler, Roberta Flack, Michael Crawford, Dionne Warwick, Chaka Khan, and the original Broadway cast recording of Rent. His musical journey took him to Berklee College of Music on a full scholarship, where he further refined his skills as a Music Production and Engineering major. Armand also met the jazz legend Gary Burton at BUGLE (Berklee Union of Gays and Lesbians), who was also influential in Armand's LGBTQ activism in the early 90's. 

Armand went on to broadcasting in 1995 as one of the producers of Eagle 93-7, a CBS Broadcasting radio station in Boston and later became a staff-producer for MJI Broadcasting (later acquired by ClearChannel) where he won "Best New Programming Award" for his production of Mundo Latino - a syndicated weekly radio feed. Armand also worked as a faculty member for ITU-MIAM in Istanbul where he also completed his military service. Armand garnered three number one hits as a producer, co-producer and songwriter respectively during his tenure in Istanbul: Ajda Pekkan's 'Sen Iste' single (producer), legendary  MFO's number one album AGU (co-producer) and his collaborations with the legendary Turkish lyricist and author Murathan Mungan. Armand has composed three of Mr. Mungan's lyrics which were later featured in a number one compilation album of Mungan's lyrics entitled Model 2020. 

Armand returned to the U.S. as he set his goals to establish an independent production company. In 2015, TJ Armand joined forces with his partner Carl Paiva to establish the production company, Armand & Paiva Productions, and the recording label, TJ Armand Music LLC. As their first investment on Broadway, they joined forces with powerhouse Broadway producers Jay and Cindy Gutterman and were among the investors in  Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 . The show was the most Tony-nominated show in 2016 and was the Broadway debut of Josh Groban. Armand and Paiva were also among the investors of Stephen Sondheim's Merrily We Roll Along with Cody Lassen and Associates. in 2016, the first readings of Armand's musical Sama took place at Joe's Pub and 54 Below. Sama also won a residency award at the prestigious National Sawdust. 

As the former Executive Director of The 44th Annual Bermuda Festival, TJ Armand's concert production credits boast unforgettable performances by music luminaries such as Chaka Khan, The Manhattan Transfer, and the internationally acclaimed vocal sextet, The Queen's Six. As featured in CBS Sunday Morning Armand, produced the group's first contemporary album -  From Windsor With Love ( on Signum Records UK) - and Armand & Paiva LLC co-produced their captivating New York City performance at the historic The Town Hall with 14-time Tony Award winning producer Carl Moellenberg. Armand has produced a myriad of stage and concert productions, including the awe-inspiring Terrence McNally play Master Class starring the late Kathryn Kates, and the soul-stirring Nina Simone Four Women, 

When Armand and Paiva first saw Tony Nominee (for her role as Janis Joplin on Broadway) Mary Bridget Davies, Armand invited her to perform at Bermuda Festival. The successful show with glowing reviews led to many projects with "MBD" including shows at Le Poisson Rouge, Joe's Puband 54 Below staged readings of Virginia Woolf's A Room Of One's Own. In 2020, Armand produced a tribute album featuring Mary Bridget Davies for the late Grammy-winning songwriter Jerry Ragovoy (Piece Of My Heart, Cry Baby, Time Is On My Side). The album entitled Stay With Me: The Reimagined Songs Of Jerry Ragovoy was a LOML Records and Broadway Records release. In 2023, TJ Armand Music showcased Mary Bridget Davies' first live album - Freedom Of My Mind (Live at Power Station NYC). Produced by Armand, the album featured five songwriting collaborations with the acclaimed Broadway veteran composer/pianist Mark Berman, along with End Of All Roads, an original composition by Armand, inspired by Virginia Woolf’s "women's empowerment" manifesto 'A Room Of One’s Own'. Both albums are now available as a compilation album entitled 'Don't Compromise Yourself' (Center Stage Records) on all platforms; the songs on the compilation received glowing reviews. In 2024, Armand and Paiva  formed a partnership with  Jerry Ragovoy's widow and Broadway producer Bev Ragovoy (Don't Compromise Productions LLC). Mary Bridget Davies starred in the West End production of 'A Night With Janis Joplin' in London (September, 2024) at Peacock Theatre. Davies and was featured on The Evening Standard . She also performed at West End Live to promote the much anticipated show's West End debut. 

In 2024, Armand and Paiva started two new initiatives which were featured in The Royal Gazette and Bernews: Bringing world-class live entertainment to Bermuda. Additionally the company embarked on its first film initiative as Associate Producers of the documentary entitled Artists At The Edge. The film was featured in Provincetown Film Festival and won Best Half Length Documentary at Five Continents International Film Festival, along with awards from Austin Short Film Festival and The Shawna Shea Memorial Film Festival. 

T.J. Armand is currently working with various partners in developing a concert series entitled Women Who Rock You starring Tony Nominee Mary Bridget Davies along with a TV series entitled Voices United.. Armand is also developing a one-act play: A comedy featuring Provincetown's pride and joy Darlene Van Alstyne entitled 'Diamond to Jade'. 

In May 2024, Armand released his first poetry collection entitled Self Imposed Exile: Poems of Queer Beginnings; which consists of his early works; paperback version now available on Amazon.