To grasp how much the man adored this entre, consider that he often signed his personal letters with Red Beans and Ricely Yours.. Biography and associated logos are trademarks of A+E Networksprotected in the US and other countries around the globe. "Hotter Than That" was in the Top Ten in May 1928, followed in September by "West End Blues," which later became one of the first recordings named to the Grammy Hall of Fame. Some even theorize that it was Armstrongs difficult upbringing that made his music so wise, so unique, and so revolutionary. "What a Wonderful World" peaked on the U.S. music charts after Armstrong passed away. Why is Louis Armstrong important? - Answers He was then sent to the Colored Waif's Home for Boys. Louis Armstrong A jazz pioneer, Louis Armstrong was the first important soloist to emerge in jazz, and he became the most influential musician in the music's history. Armstrong could make an audience cheer, but Roy Eldridge, made those top and bottom notes feel like a natural part of what the horn should do (Friedwald 21). By the '50s, Armstrong was widely recognized, even traveling the globe for the US. At the mention jazz music, that person will first think of is likely to be a great figure with a clown image, nicknamed Satchmo. By 1932, Armstrong, who was now known as Satchmo, had begun appearing in movies and made his first tour of England. In the 1950s, he was sometimes criticized for his onstage persona and called an Uncle Tom but he silenced critics by speaking out against the governments handling of the Little Rock Nine high school integration crisis in 1957. When Armstrong was eleven years old, he got in trouble for shooting a gun on New Years Eve to ring in the new year, 1912. Louis Armstrong By the summer of 1970, Armstrong was allowed to perform publicly again and play the trumpet. Armstrong continued to tour extensively, despite a heart attack in June 1959. Dancers loved Hendersons music making Louis Armstrong a celebrity so when he left his old band, this would be a step up. You have arrived to one of the most grand occasions of the year, dressed in your fanciest attire with a hundred watt smile gracing your lips. At the start of Armstrongs career, he married Daisy Parker. Armstrong was an African American child growing up in the slums of New Orleans, close to abandonment, impoverished, and with too few constant people, resources, or homes. He also took a series of small parts in motion pictures, beginning with Pennies from Heaven in December 1936, and he continued to record for Decca, resulting in the Top Ten hits "Public Melody Number One" (August 1937), "When the Saints Go Marching In" (April 1939), and "You Won't Be Satisfied (Until You Break My Heart)" (April 1946), the last a duet with Ella Fitzgerald. During this time, Armstrong taught the band how to swing. In a 1951 interview with Esquire, Armstrong claimed to have come prepared with printed lyrics that day. Career highlights, compiled by the Louis Armstrong House Museum: In 1937, Louis Armstrong became the first African American entertainer to host a nationally sponsored radio show. Reel 163 Louis Armstrong, n.d. WebHe had a string of pop hits beginning in 1949 and started making regular overseas tours, where his popularity was so great, he was dubbed Ambassador Satch. In America, Armstrong had been a great Civil Rights pioneer, breaking down The story behind the jazz legends final hit and, quite simply, one of the most beautiful songs ever written. After they married in 1924, Hardin made it clear that she felt Oliver was holding Armstrong back. (Biography.com), Many people knew Louis Armstrong as the first real genius of jazz(Shipton 26). 2012-02-22 18:06:07. Armstrong was brought up by his mother, Mary (Albert) Armstrong, and his maternal grandmother. WebLouis Armstrong is arguably the most important musician that the United States has ever produced (Shipton 160). Life & Legacy Louis Armstrong Society Jazz Band It is said that during a session, Armstrong dropped his sheet music and started mimicking the sounds of the horn with his voice. Born, August 4, 1901 he started off in a harder life than most people usually do. Copy. WebLouis Armstrong was the protean genius that made African American classical music mislabeled as jazz the most important music event of the 20th century. St. Louis Cardinals prospect Jordan Walker tracks down a flyball during fielding practice at the Cardinals spring training complex in Jupiter, Fla. on Friday, Feb. 17, 2023. Glaser did just that; within a few months, Armstrong had a new big band and was recording for Decca Records. By 1968, Armstrong's grueling lifestyle had finally caught up with him. During this period, he switched from cornet to trumpet. Louis Armstrong recorded many popular songs like La Vie en Rose, and his theme song When its Sleepy Time Down South. He is remembered as the most influential artist in the early development of jazz. Louis Armstrong - Black History Month - LibGuides at He is remembered as the most influential artist in the early development of jazz. After trying it, he said that defecation sounded like Applause. Enamored, the musician began handing out packets to admirers, loved ones, and band members. Armstrong was featured nightly on Ain't Misbehavin', breaking up the crowds of (mostly white) theatergoers nightly. While growing up, Armstrong did assorted jobs for the Karnofskys, a family of Lithuanian-Jewish immigrants. He was one of America's most significant artists by the late 1930s, and had created a sensation in Europe with live performances and records. However, controversy regarding Armstrong's fatherhood struck in 1954, when a girlfriend that the musician had dated on the side, Lucille "Sweets" Preston, claimed she was pregnant with his child. He was one of the most influential figures in jazz music. Famous for his innovative methods of playing the trumpet and cornet, he was also a highly talented singer, blessed with a powerful gravelly voice. Known for his improvisation, Armstrong could induce dramatic effects with his music. His influence, both as an artist and cultural icon, is universal and is still relevant today. The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica, Dig Deeper: More Articles That Discuss This Topic, American actress, singer, director, producer. Armstrong's charismatic stage presence impressed not only the jazz world but all of popular music. His influence, both as an artist and He influenced other jazz musicians by his fearless trumpet styles and distinctive vocals. Revisiting Louis Armstrong in the Context The material may show why Armstrong was not just a giant of jazz music, but a civil rights leader as well. Armstrong sang his heart out on the number, thinking of his home in Queens as he did so, but "What a Wonderful World" received little promotion in the United States. Why is Louis Armstrong important to blacks? It has given me something to live for. Duke Ellingtons sense of musical drama was the one that made him stand out from all of the rest., Armstrong became the best jazz soloist on Broadway (Louis Armstrong 1). Armstrong made his first trip abroad, to Europe, and received the nickname Satchmo from his original nickname Satchelmouth, because of his big lips. They also encouraged him to sing and often invited him into their home for meals. Aint that stupid? Jazz Giant Louis Armstrong Was Born - America's Library The bottom line of any country in the world is what did we contribute to the world? Louis Armstrong: Genius and Drugs There was a cheerful impatience in his playing, an optimistic confidence that led him to risk going over the top (Shipton 157). I play the good kind (Armstrong). Armstrong decided to take some time off soon after the incident, and spent much of 1934 relaxing in Europe and resting his lip. The first recording of What a Wonderful World was produced by ABC Records, which made no attempt to advertise it domestically. While he was beloved by musicians, he was too wild for most critics, who gave him some of the most racist and harsh reviews of his career. WebBy the '50s, Armstrong was an established international celebrity--an icon to musicians and lovers of jazz--and a genial, infectiously optimistic presence wherever he appeared. When Louis Armstrong was placed in a boys home as a young boy, he was presented with the opportunity to play the cornet. But, as a Bayou State native, Armstrongs favorite dish was always rice and beans. (Jazz From New Orleans, Jazz music was one of the most popular music genres in the 1920s and 1930s. Louis Armstrong was the most important and influential musician in jazz history. One of the first soloists on record, Louis was at the forefront of changing jazz from ensemble-oriented folk music into an art form that emphasized inventive solo improvisations. .css-m6thd4{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;display:block;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;font-family:Gilroy,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-size:1.125rem;line-height:1.2;font-weight:bold;color:#323232;text-transform:capitalize;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-m6thd4:hover{color:link-hover;}}Rock Icon KISS Is Saying Goodbye (For Real), Rihanna and 10 Other Great Pregnant Performances, Burt Bacharachs Legacy: 5 Notable Collaborations, 2023 Grammy Awards: Six Winners Who Made History. Despite failing to make a new record for two years, Armstrong remained a fan favorite. By the end of the decade, the popularity of the Hot Fives and Sevens was enough to send Armstrong back to New York, where he appeared in the popular Broadway revue, Hot Chocolates. He soon began touring and never really stopped until his death in 1971. When Armstrong returned to Chicago in 1935, he had no band, no engagements and no recording contract. He was also a talented singer, and his recordings of songs like What a Armstrongs unique singing and masterful improvisation transitioned jazz from the traditional style to a newer, more rhythmic style. His lips were still sore, and there were still remnants of his mob troubles and with Lil, who, following the couple's split, was suing Armstrong. However, Armstrong's southern background didn't mesh well with the more urban, Northern mentality of Henderson's other musicians, who sometimes gave Armstrong a hard time over his wardrobe and the way he talked. His rise to fame peaked in the 1920s, where he stunned the world with his bold trumpet style and idiosyncratic vocals. It won him a Grammy for best vocal performance. However, conditions changed when he was requested to record the title number of a broadway show that went on to become a hit. Armstrong spent his youth singing on the street for spare change, but he didnt receive any formal musical training until age 11. In addition Armstrong was also an influential singer, demonstrating great dexterity as an improviser, bending the lyrics and melody of a song for expressive purposes., On the 26th day of December in 1788 there was a very great success. he is important because he was the first black singer. WebAnswer (1 of 2): Armstrongs first brass instrument and initial training was on the cornet, which is generally easier for younger or beginning players to learn and slightly smaller in size. The way they are treating my people in the South, declared Armstrong, the government can go to hell.. Louis Armstrong is considered a hero for many reasons. Though his popularity was hitting new highs in the 1950s, and despite breaking down so many barriers for his race and being a hero to the African American community for so many years, Armstrong began losing his standing with two segments of his audience: Modern jazz fans and young African Americans. https://www.britannica.com/facts/Louis-Armstrong, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum (1990), jazz: The cornetist breaks away: Louis Armstrong and the invention of swing. To many young jazz listeners at the time, Armstrong's ever-smiling demeanor seemed like it was from a bygone era, and the trumpeter's refusal to comment on politics for many years only furthered perceptions that he was out of touch. Louis began playing at a young age when he was growing up in New Orleans. Jazz was born there and I remember when it was no crime for cats of any color to get together and blow. Nine years later, after this ban had finally lifted, he again took the stage in New Orleans on October 31, 1965. The new style that he created gave a voice-like quality to his horn. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. These views changed in 1957, when Armstrong saw the Little Rock Central High School integration crisis on television. Seems to me it ain't the world that's so bad but what we're doing to it, and all I'm saying is: see what a wonderful world it would be if only we'd give it a chance. Why was Louis Armstrong important to the Harlem Renaissance? Also in 1936, Louis Armstrong became the first African American to get featured billing in a major Hollywood movie with his turn in. What was Louis Armstrongs childhood like? If Armstrong never bought the cornet he would have never become famous. These records later went on to become the most influential in jazz history, as it was the first time Armstrong facilitated the evolution of jazz as a ensemble to a soloist art. That same year, he became the first African American to get featured billing in a major Hollywood movie with his turn in Pennies from Heaven, starring Bing Crosby. Armstrong used to say that hed been born on July 4, 1900. No ones quite sure why Armstrong lied about his age, but the most popular theories maintain he wanted to join a military band or that he figured he'd have a better shot at landing gigs if he was over 18 years old. WebLouis Armstrongs ability to use his career to change the music and jazz industry forever is another great example of why Louis Armstrong exhibits the right. A local Jewish family, the Karnofskys, gave young Armstrong a job collecting junk and delivering coal. 149 Copy quote. Armstrong had a difficult childhood: His father was a factory worker and abandoned the family soon after Louis's birth. As if it were not enough that Armstrong would rewire instrumental music for the rest of the century, his singing did the same for vocal music. He first came to prominence in the 1920s as a trumpeter and cornet player with no technique as well as being very skilled in scat singing, Armstrong was a foundational influence in jazz, influencing many later jazz artists as well as shifting the focus of the music from collective improvisation to solo performance.With his very well-known and recognizable gravelly voice, a technique that was later named crooning, Armstrong was an incredibly influential singer, demonstrating great dexterity as an improviser by bending the lyrics and melody of a song for expressive purposes on demand. Louis Armstrong Musician Facts | Mental Floss He influenced countless other musicians and helped to shape the course of jazz. There, under the tutelage of Peter Davis, he learned how to properly play the cornet, eventually becoming the leader of the Waifs Home Brass Band. 1. He was often left with his grandmother, and left school in fifth grade to start working. At the school he learned to play cornet. Instead of doing strictly jazz numbers, OKeh began allowing Armstrong to record popular songs of the day, including "I Can't Give You Anything But Love," "Star Dust" and "Body and Soul.". He was especially known for his spectacular trumpet playing, unmistakable voice, and exceptionally recognizable, broad smile., In three years they recorded over 60 records, which now are considered the most influential recordings in jazz history. WebDid You Know? This was the first time anyone had ever recorded this technique known as scat singing. Why does Louis Armstrong sound like that Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington "Jazz Mentored by the citys top cornetist, Joe King Oliver, Armstrong soon became one of the most in-demand cornetists in town, eventually working steadily on Mississippi riverboats. He married Lillian Harden, the pianist in the Oliver band, on February 5, 1924. His music was a happiness to individuals and they said he was a gift sent from heaven. How Did Louis Armstrong Contribute To The Harlem Renaissance Louis Daniel (Louie) Armstrong is perhaps the most important and influential person in the history of jazz music, swing music, and jazz vocal styling. Clarence, who had become mentally disabled from a head injury he had suffered at an early age, was taken care of by Armstrong his entire life. He was a master of the trumpet and cornet, and his style of playing was unique and instantly recognizable. Copy. WebToday, Louis Armstrong holds the title as the worlds greatest jazz player. This led some to alter his long-time nickname, Satchmo, to "Ambassador Satch.". Armstrong spent much of that year at home, but managed to continue practicing the trumpet daily. Louis Armstrong: A Cultural Legacy Armstrong's four marriages never produced any children, and because he and wife Lucille Wilson had actively tried for years to no avail, many believed him to be sterile, incapable of having children. When Wilson tired of living out of a suitcase during endless strings of one-nighters, she convinced Armstrong to purchase a house at 34-56 107th Street in Corona, Queens, New York. In April, he reached the charts with his first vocal recording, "Big Butter and Egg Man," a duet with May Alix. In 1936, he became the first African American jazz musician to write an autobiography: Swing That Music. Louis Armstrong Then, at the age of five, he was returned to the care of his mother, who at the time worked as a laundress. The tune did, however, become a No. Because of Armstrongs brilliance, his records such as Cornet Chop Suey and Potato Head Blues are esteemed because of his risky rhythmic choices and high notes. When Armstrong saw this as well as white protesters hurling invective at the students he blew his top to the press, telling a reporter that President Dwight D. Eisenhower had "no guts" for letting Faubus run the country, and stating, "The way they are treating my people in the South, the government can go to hell.". One of the first many New Orleans style jazz artists is Jelly Roll Morton. By the start of 1932, he had switched from the "race"-oriented OKeh label to its pop-oriented big sister Columbia, for which he recorded two Top Five hits, "Chinatown, My Chinatown" and "You Can Depend on Me" before scoring a number one hit with "All of Me" in March 1932; another Top Five hit, "Love, You Funny Thing," hit the charts the same month. Louis Armstrong: The First Great Jazz Soloist Instead he used his talent as a ticket to improve his lot and create a meaningful life. He had a string of pop hits beginning in 1949 and started making regular overseas tours, where his popularity was so great, he was dubbed Ambassador Satch.. Changing jazz into what was once known as a ensemble music to soloist art. He was taken under the wing of cornetist Joe "King" Oliver, and when Oliver moved to Chicago in June 1918, Armstrong replaced him in the Kid Ory Band. He is also the first African American celebrity to appear in a major Hollywood movie. Louis Armstrong was born in New Orleans Louisinana, to Mayann, and Willie Armstrong. Louis does a really important trip to Africa this were the states or cities that he went with Cameroon, the Belgian Congo, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria and Sierra Leone Jul 6, 1971. The sadest event Two days after his birthday of turning 70, Louis he put his soul and dedicated his life to his music. Louis Armstrong was born in New Orleans in 1901. Louis Armstrong. those works included Cotton Tail and Ko-Ko. Some of his most popular songs included "It Don 't Mean a Thing if It Ain 't Got That Swing," "Sophisticated Lady," "Prelude to a Kiss," "Solitude," and "Satin Doll (Duke Ellington Biography). Louis continued to spread his style by touring other countries. With his amazing voice trumpet he created a band and made some records. It did not gain as much notice in the U.S. until 1987, when it was used in the film Good Morning, Vietnam, after which it became a Top 40 hit. WebLouis Armstrong. A series of new biographies on Armstrong made his role as a civil rights pioneer abundantly clear and, subsequently, argued for an embrace of his entire career's output, not just the revolutionary recordings from the 1920s. The colors of the rainbow, so pretty in the sky are also on the faces of people going by. This is where Armstrong first fell in love with music; he would listen to people playing any chance that he would get(Tirro). You feel butterflies in your stomach as you take your seat. To earn money, Armstrong sang on street corners, sold newspapers, and delivered coal. Many great performers have come out of the jazz industry, but the most widely known is Louis Satchmo Armstrong. It was on the riverboat that Armstrong honed his music reading skills and eventually had his first encounters with other jazz legends, including Bix Beiderbecke and Jack Teagarden. Armstrong was the primary ever "Genius" of jazz music. Louis Armstrong Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. Site contains certain content that is owned A&E Television Networks, LLC. Louis Armstrong was a jazz trumpeter, bandleader and singer known for songs like "What a Wonderful World, Hello, Dolly, Star Dust and "La Vie En Rose.. His style was unique and his talent was undeniable. You might be able to buy a little better booze than the wino on the corner. Personnel changed over the years but this remained Armstrongs main performing vehicle for the rest of his career. Louis Armstrong WebWhy Is Louis Armstrong Important. ", Armstrong signed with Columbia Records in the mid-'50s, and soon cut some of the finest albums of his career for producer George Avakian, including Louis Armstrong Plays W.C. The record was released in 1964 and quickly climbed to the top of the pop music charts, hitting the No. WebCourtesy of the Louis Armstrong Archive Queens College, CUNY. However, a heart attack two days after the Waldorf gig sidelined him for two months. (Armstrong did not function as a bandleader in the usual sense, but instead typically lent his name to established groups.) Louis Armstrong was to jazz music what Bach is to classical music, Presley is to rock music (Berrett 230). he put his soul and dedicated his life to his music. It's also worth noting that even though he brought it into popularity, Armstrong in no way invented the technique, which dates back to at least 1906. The joyous tune perfectly and ironically clashed with the wartime horrors depicted in one montage, so director Barry Levinson added it to his films soundtrack. In 1988, music historian Thaddeus Tad Jones located a baptismal record at New Orleanss Sacred Heart of Jesus Church. WebHe overcame poverty to become one of the most important people in the history of music. Death Year: 1971, Death date: July 6, 1971, Death State: New York, Death City: Corona, Queens, Death Country: United States, Article Title: Louis Armstrong Biography, Author: Biography.com Editors, Website Name: The Biography.com website, Url: https://www.biography.com/musicians/louis-armstrong, Publisher: A&E; Television Networks, Last Updated: January 29, 2021, Original Published Date: April 3, 2014. If the gun was not so easily accessible, his firing it and being arrested could have been prevented. Armstrong soon began dating the female pianist in the band, Lillian Hardin. His fame rose when he composed several masterworks in the 1940s. Then along came a bare-knuckled comedy called Good Morning, Vietnam (1987). His greatest inspiration was Joe King Oliver. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Armstrong's popularity continued to grow in Chicago throughout the decade, as he began playing other venues, including the Sunset Caf and the Savoy Ballroom. Armstrong continued touring the world and making records with songs like Blueberry Hill (1949), Mack the Knife (1955) and Hello, Dolly! But many of his recorded performances are masterpieces, and none are less than entertaining. This gift, coupled with Louis Armstrongs already present affinity for the musical sounds of the local New Orleans street bands and brass players that lingered around, helped to brew the perfect storm that would create one of the most prolific players of the 20th century. In fact, before marrying his fourth wife, he made sure that she could cook a satisfactory plateful. Why A year later, he was honored with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Though he was the product's biggest cheerleader, Armstrong neither requested nor received any payment from its manufacturers. He was also a gifted singer, and his Another one of Armstrongs notable qualities, scat singing (wordless singing/mummering) was also popularized during this. 34-56 107th Street, Queens, NY 11368 718-478-8274 2023 Louis Armstrong House Museum, 34-56 107th Street, Queens, NY 11368 718-478-8274, The Louis Armstrong House Museum is a constituent of the. After completing the optimistic anthem, songwriters Bob Thiele and George David Weiss thought that Tony Bennett would eat it right up. He played dramatic works of simple structure in Orleans jazz style and with the accompaniment of Dick jazz music. The latter performance is one of Armstrong's best known works, opening with a stunning cadenza that features equal helpings of opera and the blues; with its release, "West End Blues" proved to the world that the genre of fun, danceable jazz music was also capable of producing high art. A young pianist from Pittsburgh, Earl Hines, assimilated Armstrong's ideas into his piano playing. Louis Armstrong is famous for his stunning jazz performance, unique vocals, and amazing styles with the trumpet/cornet. While in New York, Armstrong cut dozens of records as a sideman, creating inspirational jazz with other greats such as Sidney Bechet, and backing numerous blues singers including Bessie Smith. Members of the group, at one time or another, included Jack Teagarden, Earl Hines, Sid Catlett, Barney Bigard, Trummy Young, Edmond Hall, Billy Kyle and Tyree Glenn, among other jazz legends. Mob bosses from New York City and Chicago threatened Louis Armstrong in attempts to control his management contract. On New Years Eve 1912, he was arrested and sent to the Colored Waifs Home for Boys. He dropped out of school at 11 to join an informal group, but on December 31, 1912, he fired a gun during a New Year's Eve celebration, and was sent to reform school. Hes a professional jazz performer who played with Oliver and Henderson.
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