Andy Armstrong (BLOOD)

  • Andy  Armstrong (BLOOD)
© Andy Armstrong
Singer
Principal country concerned : Column : Music
Barbados

Anderson Armstrong was born on February 1, 1968 in Barbados. Andy also known as Andy "Blood" Armstrong is one of the most talented males currently on the Soca scene. Many wonder why Andy is nicknamed "Blood", but wonder no more. Young Blood was a name I got from the Mighty Gabby by accident. He could not remember my name when I first met with him and he wrote it on a cassette. At first I thought he had given me the wrong one but then I realized what he had done. I liked it and I used the name. Over time people would just call me Blood and so today that is what I use on stage." He started singing as a choirboy while at primary school. Andy began singing in local competitions back in 1983 while still in high school. At that time he made his professional debut in the Richard Stoute Teen Talent Contest. There he made it all the way to the finals performing his own compositions. That same year he participated under the guidance of his mentor, The Mighty Gabby, in Gabbys first timers Calypso Contest. The following year (1984), with the encouragement of then school teacher and tent manager, Mac Fingall, he joined The Untouchables Calypso Tent. There he shared the stage with seven time Calypso Monarch of Barbados, The Ragga-Ragga King Red Plastic Bag. In 1985, at the age of 17, Andy Armstrong became the youngest person ever to make the National Calypso Finals in Barbados. Performing under the sobriquet "Young Blood" he placed fifth in the competition which was won by The Mighty Gabby. One of his biggest career moves to date was when in 1986, he along with his friend and former school mate, George Jones became founding members of one of Barbados most prominent and one of the Caribbeans leading party bands over the last 2 decades, Square One . Paul Slater, Cecil Riley and Winston Beckles were also founding members of the band. Blood, as he is affectionately known was the lead vocalist and guitarist with the band. Square One went on to record several albums where Blood was featured on lead vocals. These included Special, and Eat, Drink and Be Merry on which the song Party Can Done received a Caribbean Music Award nomination. 

Partners

  • Arterial network
  • Media, Sports and Entertainment Group (MSE)
  • Gens de la Caraïbe
  • Groupe 30 Afrique
  • Alliance Française VANUATU
  • PACIFIC ARTS ALLIANCE
  • FURTHER ARTS
  • Zimbabwe : Culture Fund Of Zimbabwe Trust
  • RDC : Groupe TACCEMS
  • Rwanda : Positive Production
  • Togo : Kadam Kadam
  • Niger : ONG Culture Art Humanité
  • Collectif 2004 Images
  • Africultures Burkina-Faso
  • Bénincultures / Editions Plurielles
  • Africiné
  • Afrilivres

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