The Armstrong Twins

Born in DeWitt, Arkansas, and raised in Little Rock, the Armstrong Twins—guitarist Lloyd and mandolin player Floyd—ranked among the final duets to command the intricate vocal blends of traditional country from the 1930s and 1940s. Their broadcasting career began with a radio debut at age five, and by nine they hosted their own program. Strong influence from the Blue Sky Boys and the Bailes Brothers helped secure spots on two daily radio broadcasts plus The Arkansas Jamboree by 1946. Between that year and 1951 they recorded more than a dozen sides, most of them bluegrass covers, while also cutting occasional instrumentals.

The pair relocated to Odessa, Texas, in 1952 and started performing on local radio and television before touring with Johnny Horton and joining Louisiana Hayride. In the late 1950s they moved to California and appeared on The Town Hall Party in Compton. Their popularity on the West Coast stood out at a time when Western swing and honky tonk ruled area charts. They later returned to Little Rock.

Decades afterward, reissues of their early recordings prompted fresh festival and club dates, including a new album issued in 1980. Floyd’s failing health forced the brothers to limit personal appearances to occasional performances throughout the 1980s.