Jack Armstrong — the American honorary Canadian NBA analyst, humorist and former college ball coach whose golden voice (and New York accent) have been a mainstay of Toronto Raptors broadcasts on TSN for over 20 years — has announced plans to release a holiday album.
After all this time singing to viewers on-air, Armstrong has put some of his seasonal favourites to tape for Hellooo and Happy Holidays, arriving November 18 via Comedy Records.
If you've tuned into TSN's Raptors broadcasts within the last two decades, you're undoubtedly familiar with Armstrong's catchphrases: "Helloooo!" for every thunderous dunk, and "Get that garbage outta here" for every emphatic shot block.
You also may have heard him sing Bon Jovi, the Notorious B.I.G., anything by Frank Sinatra, "Beer Barrel Polka (Roll Out the Barrel)" and more on these broadcasts — and you'll now get the chance to sing with Armstrong in person.
Ever the showman, Armstrong has also lined up a live performance, singing songs from the album alongside the Comedy Records house band live at Toronto's Danforth Music Hall on December 6, where audience participation is absolutely encouraged.
The evening will also feature sets from award-winning stand-up comedians Paul Rabliauskas, Arthur Simeon, Adrienne Fish and Nick Reynoldson. Proceeds from the night will be donated to MLSE Foundation and the Special Olympics in partnership with TSN and Sobey's.
Tickets for Armstrong's holiday sing-along concert go on sale November 4 at 10 a.m. local time via Live Nation.
This isn't the first time Armstrong has cut a record of holiday classics. In 2010, RaptorsHQ published an oral history on a preliminary attempt at seasonal singing from Armstrong and Sportsnet Raptors reporter Eric Smith, which you can hear a bit of below.
After all this time singing to viewers on-air, Armstrong has put some of his seasonal favourites to tape for Hellooo and Happy Holidays, arriving November 18 via Comedy Records.
If you've tuned into TSN's Raptors broadcasts within the last two decades, you're undoubtedly familiar with Armstrong's catchphrases: "Helloooo!" for every thunderous dunk, and "Get that garbage outta here" for every emphatic shot block.
You also may have heard him sing Bon Jovi, the Notorious B.I.G., anything by Frank Sinatra, "Beer Barrel Polka (Roll Out the Barrel)" and more on these broadcasts — and you'll now get the chance to sing with Armstrong in person.
Ever the showman, Armstrong has also lined up a live performance, singing songs from the album alongside the Comedy Records house band live at Toronto's Danforth Music Hall on December 6, where audience participation is absolutely encouraged.
The evening will also feature sets from award-winning stand-up comedians Paul Rabliauskas, Arthur Simeon, Adrienne Fish and Nick Reynoldson. Proceeds from the night will be donated to MLSE Foundation and the Special Olympics in partnership with TSN and Sobey's.
Tickets for Armstrong's holiday sing-along concert go on sale November 4 at 10 a.m. local time via Live Nation.
This isn't the first time Armstrong has cut a record of holiday classics. In 2010, RaptorsHQ published an oral history on a preliminary attempt at seasonal singing from Armstrong and Sportsnet Raptors reporter Eric Smith, which you can hear a bit of below.
