Tom Armstrong has decided to share his country music with the world.
The 41-year-old country music songwriter and Charleroi native picked up guitar and song as a teenager, but would only perform for family members because of his inherently shy nature.
Armstrong has mustered up the courage and confidence to hit the stage for the first time 10 p.m. Saturday at T.D.'s Clubhouse in Uniontown, where he will perform songs from his debut album, "Cowboy Word."
Armstrong, who works as a prison guard in Waynesburg, moved to Addison in 1982 after he and his wife, Brenda, were married.
They have two children; Tiffany, 23, and Terri, 18; and two grandchildren, Myles and Kaydan.
Armstrong's freshman album features a collection of down-home country tunes, some of which are upbeat while others are more soothing and emotional.
Armstrong wrote five of the eight songs on the album. The others are renditions of a few of his favorite popular country selections.
The musician's original tunes reflect some of his life experiences.
Armstrong says the most meaning full song to him is a ballad he wrote called "When You Go."
The song is about a young Armstrong pleading to go with his father, Roy, to work on the midnight shift at the steel mill because he didn't want to go to sleep while his dad was away.
In the song, Armstrong says his father would respond to his request with, "I'll be right here when you wake up, son. Kiss me goodnight."
Armstrong holds a special place in his heart for that song.
"That's my most personal song," he said. "Everybody that's a dad that's listened to it says they can relate to it."
The album's title track, "Cowboy Word," is Armstrong's crash course in cowboy etiquette.
In it, he hints on how to properly use the cowboy's trademark "howdy" greeting.
Armstrong called the tune one of his fun songs.
The "country boy" said he was naturally attracted to country songs as a youth in the Mon Valley.
"Being raised in the city, everything was rock 'n' roll. I was always attracted to country. I don't remember listening to anything else," he said.
The storytelling aspect linked to country music was also appealing to Armstrong.
"I like a song that tells a story that you can actually relate to and is something with some emotion to it," he said.
Armstrong's decision to go public with his music has turned out better than he expected.
When he went to record a demo at Soundscape Studio in McKeesport, he went in with a diverse collection of songs.
He planned to leave with something to showcase his musical versatility and songwriting talent.
What he ended up with was a full band and a top-notch musical recording after the studio engineers hooked him up with six professional musicians who agreed to help Armstrong record his music.
Now, it's simply a matter of putting on a good show.
And Armstrong admits he is both eager and unsure about the outcome of his debut Saturday.
"I'm nervous as hell," he said with a laugh.
Armstrong's mother, Joyce, of Dunlevy, couldn't be more confident in and excited for her son, though.
The self-professed oldies music junkie admits that she is not a die-hard country fan but has always seen her son as a musical diamond in the rough.
"We've tried to encourage him for many years to do this because Tom has always had a love for music," she said.
Joyce Armstrong said it took some coaxing to convince her son to hit the local music scene.
"He didn't decide. Everybody decided for Tom because nobody would give up on him," she said with a grin.
Joyce Armstrong is the long-time president of a local Bobby Rydell fan club and has befriended such oldies bands that still perform as The Vogues, The Marcels, and The Holidays.
She said she tapped into that talent pool for advice on how her son should launch his career.
"I asked all of these guys, because they've made records, how to go about doing this," she said.
Tom Armstrong hopes this weekend's show will be his first step toward making music even more of a driving force in his life.
"My intention, once I start getting out there, is for somebody to hear it and like it," he said. "I'm focused on trying to promote it now, but I also want to have fun."
Armstrong will perform publicly for the first time 10 p.m. Saturday at T.D.'s Clubhouse, located in Oliver Square just off Route 51 near Uniontown.
To buy his CD, which is on sale for $12, visit www. tarmstrong.homestead.com or call Joyce Armstrong at (724) 483-4311.
