| MY
LIFE IN A NUTSHELL |
| |
| 1965 |
Born
on St. Patricks Day to Ed & Mary Ann Armstrong, Springfield, Illinois.
|
| 1977 |
Picks
up guitar for first time. |
| 1978 |
Guitar
teacher falls asleep during lesson. New guitar teacher sought. |
| 1982 |
Forms
first band, Flawless Ketchup. Pere Ubu's "Non Alignment Pact"
covered during gig at high school gymnasium. |
| 1983 |
Hears
Trout Mask Replica, White Light White Heat, Forever Changes
and Damaged. Course of life permanently altered. |
| 1984 |
Drops
out of college, joins indie band The Hollowmen in Des Moines, Iowa. |
| 1984
- 1989 |
Plays
countless crummy gigs in Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Nebraska,
Arizona, and California, often making enough money to pay for gas. Smokes,
drinks. Plays through Marshall amp, ruins hearing. |
| 1986 |
The
Hollowmen release first LP on Chicago's Pravda Records. |
| 1989 |
The
Hollowmen release second LP on Hollywood's Amoeba Records. |
| 1989 |
The
Hollowmen break up in dispute over van payments. |
| 1990
- 1993 |
Goes
to art school. As a result, plays gigs wearing a dress, pants with the butt
cut out, and long johns & body paint. Attempts to play drums like Milford
Graves, fails. |
| 1992 |
Buys
country records at thrift store: Jimmie Skinner, Bobby Austin, Wynn Stewart,
Buck Owens. Course of life permanently altered. |
| 1994 |
Moves
to San Francisco.Seven-inch released on Minneapolis' Carburetor Records.
Not a country record. |
| 1996
- 1997 |
Records
first solo CD in a country music vein, Tom Armstrong Sings Heart Songs. |
| 1997 |
Forms
live band with Mike Wolf, Les James, & Greg Reeves. Begins gigging in
Bay Area. |
| 1999 |
Releases
Tom Armstrong Sings Heart Songs on Carswell Records to good sales, good
press, and international airplay. |
| 2000 |
Marries.
Releases covers of Onie Wheeler & Charlie Rich on Good Rockin' Tonight
on San Mateo's Purist Records. |
| 2001 |
Records
second CD, Songs That Make The Jukebox Play. Shoots video for "Start
Talking." Plays showcase gig at Broken Spoke in Austin, TX as part
of SXSW. Becomes a father for the first time. |
| 2002 |
Songs
That Make The Jukebox Play released. Voted best male Americana performer
in Third Coast Music's DJ poll. |