Armand Zildjian (February 18, 1921 – December 26, 2002) was an American manufacturer of cymbals and the head of the Avedis Zildjian Company. Born in Milton, Massachusetts, Armand Zildjian was the first Zildjian to be born in the United States. Armand was the heir of a cymbal-making tradition that dated back to his ancestor Avedis, who began the company in 1623 in

Istanbul Istanbul ( , ; tr, İstanbul ), formerly known as Constantinople ( grc-gre, Κωνσταντινούπολις; la, Constantinopolis), is the List of largest cities and towns in Turkey, largest city in Turkey, serving as the country's economic, ...

. By family tradition, the secrets of cymbal making were passed on only to the oldest son, but Armand's father, Avedis Zildjian III, gave the information to both of his sons, Armand and Robert. Two years before his death, Avedis appointed Armand President of the Avedis Zildjian Company. Subsequently Robert decided to go into the cymbal business himself forming the Sabian Cymbal Company, in competition with his brother. Armand Zildjian attended Colgate University, and served with the

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in the

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during World War II. After the war, he returned to his father's factory in

Quincy, Massachusetts Quincy ( ) is a coastal U.S. city in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. It is the largest city in the county and a part of Metropolitan Boston as one of Boston's immediate southern suburbs. Its population in 2020 was 101,636, making ...

, where, with the help of such music drumming stars as Chick Webb and Gene Krupa, Avedis and Armand revolutionized the cymbal business by adapting cymbals for drum sets by making them thinner. Zildjian has an honorary degree from

Berklee College of Music Berklee College of Music is a private music college in Boston, Massachusetts. It is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known for the study of jazz and modern American music, it also offers college-level cou ...

, is an inductee into the Percussive Hall of Fame, and has his name immortalized on the Guitar Center Rock Walk in Hollywood, California. Armand Zildjian died on December 26, 2002, at his home in

Scottsdale, Arizona , settlement_type = City , named_for = Winfield Scott , image_skyline = , image_seal = Seal of Scottsdale (Arizona).svg , image_blank_emblem = City of Scottsdale Script Logo.svg , nick ...

References

External links

Interview with Craigie Zildjian, The Drummer's Journal, 25 May 2015
{{DEFAULTSORT:Zildjian, Armand 1921 births 2002 deaths People from Quincy, Massachusetts Colgate University alumni Berklee College of Music alumni American people of Armenian descent