TJ ARMAND MUSIC
TJ ARMAND MUSIC
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 retuned to the U.S. as he set his goals to establish his own production company. In 2015, Armand joined forces with his partner Carl Paiva to establish the production company, Armand & Paiva Productions, and the recording label, TJ Armand Music LLC. They also joined forces with powerhouse Broadway producers Jay and Cindy Gutterman and were among the investors in Broadway shows like 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 co-produced their captivating New York City performance at the historic The Town Hall with 13-time Tony Award winning producer Carl Moellenberg.
TJ Armand has produced a myriad of stage and concert productions, including the awe-inspiring Terrence McNally play Master Class starring the late Kathryn Kates, 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 Pub and 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.
TJ Armand recently showcased his first live album production by producing Mary Bridget Davies' first electrifying live album - Freedom Of My Mind (Live at Power Station NYC). Produced by Armand, the album features five songwriting collaborations with the acclaimed Broadway veteran composer/pianist Mark Berman, along with the hauntingly beautiful End Of All Roads, an original composition by Armand himself inspired by Virginia Woolf’s "women's empowerment" manifesto A Room Of One’s Own. Freedom Of My Mind will be released on September 1st, 2023 by Jerry Ragovoy's widow and Broadway producer Bev Ragovoy's label LOML and TJ Armand Music LLC.