Richard Armstrong passed away on October 6, 2022 at the age of 55. As an incredible musician, teacher, and friend, he epitomized a life worth living and a life dedicated to giving. He will be remembered for his gift of the music he played, the knowledge he shared, or the support he provided. His legacy is one to be supported and celebrated. Rich’s untimely passing sent a shockwave through the Bay Area community. Known for his musical prowess on so many instruments, he communicated his bright and playful personality seamlessly through both his music and life; It was felt strongly by all who experienced him on stage, and was a contagious force we will remember forever. On January 29th, 2023 the Jazz Mafia friends gathered at SFJAZZ Center to pay tribute to our friend and colleague alongside special guests Lydia Pense and Coldblood, Harrison Ford (Groundation), Otis McDonald, Tony Lindsay (Santana), Santa Clara Vanguard Alumni, Donna Schet, Collectivity, Roberta Donnay, Carmen Milagro, and The Crossroads Live Experience. We united in remembrance of his contribution to the musical fabric of our lives, shared in the grief, and most importantly celebrate the vibrant and truly unique person that was Rich Armstrong. Over 400 tickets were sold and over $10,000 was raised for the Richard Armstrong Memorial Fund, funding music programs at the schools and organizations Rich attended and taught at.
LISTEN TO RICH ARMSTRONG ON THE AIR - JESSE “CHUY” VARELA INTERVIEWS ADAM THEIS ON KCSM FM 91.1: remembering Rich with funny stories, warm memories and of course lots of exciting music featuring Rich.
READ ABOUT RICH ARMSTRONG IN SAN FRANCISCO CLASSICAL VOICE - BY ANDREW GILBERT: “Bidding Farewell to Departed Musicians Rich Armstrong and Andrew Speight
IN MEMORY OF RICH ARMSTRONG
IN MEMORY OF RICH ARMSTRONG
WATCH “RICH ARMSTRONG’S LIFE PAGEANT” LIVESTREAMED FROM SFJAZZ SUNDAY 1/29/23
This link will take you to the website of the funds host, The San Francisco Foundation. Select “Rich Armstrong Memorial Fund” on the “Select a fund to give to” pulldown menu
RICH'S LEGACY
RICH'S LEGACY
Though Rich left us far too soon, the imprint he made on this planet is vast, deep, playful, emotional and funky. We are forever grateful for endless memories, and the incredible library of musical prowess he gifted us with. We hope you enjoy exploring the many sounds of Rich Armstrong. May they continue to inspire for generations to come.
Photo © Bill Evans
“Trumpeter and vocalist Rich Armstrong embodied jazz’s populist possibilities as a charismatic entertainer. He was the kind of player who became a centerpiece in any band he joined, providing a steady live-wire current with his musical ebullience. His sudden death at 55 on Oct. 7 inspired an outpouring of memories and tributes reflecting how widely he circulated on the Bay Area music scene. Armstrong seemed to be everywhere, and every band he played with took on some of his joyous go-for-broke spirit. Those included Roberta Donnay’s Prohibition Mob Band, Lydia Pense and Cold Blood, the Blue Moon Gypsies, which he co-led, and various iterations of the Jazz Mafia collective. Jazz and funk, R&B and pop, rock and soul — Armstrong was game for anything, and had a sixth sense for adding just what any particular situation needed, like a torrid plunger mute solo with Boz Scaggs”
“Rich Armstrong was not only a friend and mentor to me for over half my life; he is also a foundational contributor to the Jazz Mafia family since it’s inception 22 years ago. Zooming out further, Rich was one of those rare talents who became a nexus between the dozens of different sub-genres and fragmented Bay Area music scenes. Rock, Salsa, Singer-Songwriters, Reggae, R&B, Jazz, Funk, Hip-Hop, Big Band and countless others identified with Rich as one of their own. It’s in this spirit that we wish to honor Rich’s life by showcasing many different sides of his musical life and legacy in this special one time live event.”