ARMANDO COMPEAN

Armando Compean, bassist/vocalist/composer and band leader, boasts a career marked with a countless number of collaborations and musical partnerships.  He has had his own voice since the late 1960s when he relocated to Los Angeles.  A native of Houston, Texas, he was born into a musical family and, as a result, was exposed to all types of music and instruments.  His musical journey began with violin lessons at the age of 5 and continued with learning the trumpet, drums and the studying of classical piano for 10 years.  At age 13, he taught himself the guitar, formed his own bands and was fortunate to play with some of the best local blues and jazz musicians in Houston.  After being asked to play the bass in a band, and after hearing bassist Ray Brown with Oscar Peterson and Scott LaFaro with the Bill Evans Trio, Armando completely fell in love with the bass and it became his choice of instrument.  The diversity of his musical background has given him a wide spectrum to draw from for his writing and composing.

Television / Film Credits: Armando has worked with Oscar/Grammy winner T-Bone Burnett playing the bass on such films as WALK THE LINE, starring Reese Witherspoon and Joaquin Phoenix, ALL THE KING’S MEN, starring Sean Penn, and DIVINE SECRETS OF THE YA YA SISTERHOOD, starring Sandra Bullock and Ellen Burstyn.  Other film credits include HOPE FLOATS, starring Sandra Bullock; L.A. CONFIDENTIAL, starring Russell Crowe and Kevin Spacey; ULEE’S GOLD, starring Peter Fonda; and BECAUSE I SAID SO, starring Diane Keaton.  Television credits include the current TNT show MEMPHIS BEAT, THE DREW CARREY SHOW, 7THHEAVEN, ACCORDING TO JIM, THE JOHNNY CARSON SHOW, and the RICHARD PRYOR SHOW.

Recording / Stage Credits:  Armando can be heard playing the bass on numerous recordings with artists Gillian Welch, A.J. Croce, producer T-Bone Burnett, Taj Mahal, Jennifer Warnes, Coco Montoya, Jon Hartman, M.A.L.T., Pete Snell, Matt Harris, Carmela Rappazzo, Jaye P. Morgan, as well as singing the vocal on jazz guitarist Joe Pass’s C.D. White Stone, to name a few.  Live performances include working with Paul Williams, Cybill Shepherd, Lowell George, Johnny Winter, Edgar Winter, Scott Ellison, Arnette Cobb, Jimmy Ford, Lanny Morgan, Jaye P. Morgan, Texacali Horns.  Featured documentaries include writing and music supervision for the PBS series Over America and Over California.  As a producer, he has worked with a number of artists on their recordings and projects, and also produced and performed on his own C.D.s, “Texas Brown Soul Zone” and “Just For A Thrill.”