At the start of Armstrongs career, he married Daisy Parker. Willies habit of devoting all his attention to his second, Because firing guns to welcome in the New Year was a New Orleans custom, he thought (even at 11 years old) that it would be morally acceptable to fire the gun. The book was titled Swing That Music. In 1922, King Oliver sent for Armstrong to join his band in Chicago. 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. The story behind the jazz legends final hit and, quite simply, one of the most beautiful songs ever written. The most important and influential musician in jazz history, and one of the leading singers and entertainers from the 1920s through the '50s. He influenced countless other musicians and helped to shape the course of jazz. Louis Armstrong is one of the most important jazz figures. The tune did, however, become a No. Louis Armstrong, nicknamed "Satchmo," "Pops" and, later, "Ambassador Satch," was a native of New Orleans, Louisiana. When Louis Armstrong was placed in a boys home as a young boy, he was presented with the opportunity to play the cornet. 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. Armstrong defined what it was to play Jazz. Louis Armstrong is one of the most influential jazz musicians of all time. In recent years, Armstrong's alleged daughter, who now goes by the name Sharon Preston Folta, has publicized various letters between her and her father. 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. WebToday, Louis Armstrong holds the title as the worlds greatest jazz player. (Cayton, 462) Armstrong was the king of jazz trumpet players. He turned to Joe Glaser for help; Glaser had mob ties of his own, having been close with Al Capone, but he had loved Armstrong from the time he met him at the Sunset Caf (Glaser had owned and managed the club). He popularized scat singing and was the first musician to have his solo on a recording (Rodgers 85). 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. Not a single jazz musician who had previously criticized him took his side but today, this is seen as one of the bravest, most definitive moments of Armstrong's life. 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. He fused the jazz style of the place where he grew up with well known jazz of Broadway to coordinate a better than ever kind of jazz. Louis Armstrong used to give away laxatives as gifts. He recorded several songs throughout his career, including he is known for songs like "Star Dust," "La Vie En Rose" and "What a Wonderful World. He is a husky singer, often with a trumpet in his hand. He was known for both his joyous ways with the trumpet and his peculiarly touching and funny vocal style. What made jazz continuously popular was the way it progressed. Biography and associated logos are trademarks of A+E Networksprotected in the US and other countries around the globe. .State Department and earning the nickname "Ambassador Satch." Armstrong's home in Corona, Queens was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1977; today, the house is home to the Louis Armstrong House Museum, which annually receives thousands of visitors from all over the world. WebDid You Know? To grasp how much the man adored this entre, consider that he often signed his personal letters with Red Beans and Ricely Yours.. Eldridge is the obvious link between Louis Armstrong and Dizzy Gillespie. He was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on August 4, 1901. He also learned to sing. His mother, Mayann, was 15 years old when he was born and his father, Willie, abandoned them soon after. Another one of Armstrongs notable qualities, scat singing (wordless singing/mummering) was also popularized during this. Armstrong joined Henderson in the fall of 1924 and immediately made his presence felt with a series of solos that introduced the concept of swing music to the band. 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. The colors of the rainbow, so pretty in the sky are also on the faces of people going by. 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). He was by far the most enduringly popular man of all the classical composers, and his influence on following Western art music was very good and intense., Intro Although the ballad topped the 1968 charts in Great Britain, American sales were abysmal. Louis Armstrong was called "the single most important figure in the history of jazz" by Billboard magazine, a publication that tracks the recording industry. 1 hit around the world, including in England and South Africa, and eventually became one of Armstrong's most-beloved songs after it was used in the 1986 Robin Williams film Good Morning, Vietnam. The solos Armstrong performed along with his popular scat singing helped make jazz musicians more popular along with making the fans take notice of Armstrong and jazz itself (Rennert 8). He is remembered as the most influential artist in the early development of jazz. The record was released in 1964 and quickly climbed to the top of the pop music charts, hitting the No. In September, his recording of that song entered the charts, becoming a Top Ten hit. With his daring rhythmic choice, swinging vocabulary, and incredibly high notes; changing jazz history once again. It started in New Orleans and over the years, stretched out throughout the whole United States. Armstrong was the primary ever "Genius" of jazz music. For this, he is revered by jazz fans. At the school he learned to play cornet. Armstrong continued to tour extensively, despite a heart attack in June 1959. A young pianist from Pittsburgh, Earl Hines, assimilated Armstrong's ideas into his piano playing. Unhappy, Armstrong left Henderson in 1925 to return to Chicago, where he began playing with his wife's band at the Dreamland Caf. A few weeks later after his birth his father leaves his mother alone with a family. As an artist, Armstrong was embraced by two distinctly different audiences: jazz fans who revered him for his early innovations as an instrumentalist but were occasionally embarrassed by his lack of interest in later developments in jazz, especially his willingness to serve as a light entertainer; and pop fans, who delighted in his joyous performances, particularly as a vocalist, but were largely unaware of his significance as a jazz musician. Armstrongs mentor, King Oliver, had Armstrong move to Chicago to be in his band; in Olivers, Aside from the typical cultural, social, and political factors influencing any musicians style, an early life filled with poverty and hardship also shaped Louis Armstrongs musical development. Born in 1901 in New Orleans, Louisiana, Armstrong had a difficult childhood. He wrote songs such as The Pearls, Millenburg Joys, Mr. With his infectious smile and raspy voice, Louis Armstrong (who actually pronounced his own name "Lewis") won over fans worldwide. 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. His rise to the top, though not overnight, occurred quickly, he played with mostly all the major bands in New Orleans over the next few years (Friedwald 350). In 1936, he became the first African American jazz musician to write an autobiography: Swing That Music. After his time in Colored Waifs Home, he wanted to become a musician. 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. WebThrough the internet and books we find out why Louis Armstrong is such a great person to learn about. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. 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.. ", Armstrong's fully healed lip made its presence felt on some of the finest recordings of career, including "Swing That Music," "Jubilee" and "Struttin' with Some Barbecue.". Armstrong continued recording for Decca in the late 1940s and early '50s, creating a string of popular hits, including "Blueberry Hill," "That Lucky Old Sun," "La Vie En Rose," "A Kiss to Build a Dream On" and "I Get Ideas. To untold millions, every note that he let loose made the world feel a bit more wonderful, and his music is still being discovered by new generations of fans. Louis Armstrong was an outstanding jazz musician during the Harlem Renaissance Era. In June 1951 he reached the Top Ten of the LP charts with Satchmo at Symphony Hall ("Satchmo" being his nickname), and he scored his first Top Ten single in five years with "(When We Are Dancing) I Get Ideas" later in the year. Featuring young geniuses such as Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker and Miles Davis, the younger generation of musicians saw themselves as artists, not as entertainers. All music is folk music. Louis was born in New Orleans where he grew up and learned to play the trumpet. Armstrong was still a popular attraction around the world in 1963, but hadn't made a record in two years. Why is Louis Armstrong important in the 20's? Today, these are generally regarded as the most important and influential recordings in jazz history; on these records, Armstrong's virtuoso brilliance helped transform jazz from an ensemble music to a soloist's art. With the assistance of the jazz musicians, the music industry, Making his voice sound like a musical instrument and singing nonsense syllables with no words created Scat singing. The first recording of What a Wonderful World was produced by ABC Records, which made no attempt to advertise it domestically. He spent the next several years in Europe, his American career maintained by a series of archival recordings, including the Top Ten hits "Sweethearts on Parade" (August 1932; recorded December 1930) and "Body and Soul" (October 1932; recorded October 1930). 1 slot in May 1964, and knocking the Beatles off the top at the height of Beatlemania. Satchmo didn't let the criticism stop him, however, and he returned an even bigger star when he began a longer tour throughout Europe in 1933. 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. But you get sick just like the next cat and when you die you're just as graveyard dead as he is. In 1988, music historian Thaddeus Tad Jones located a baptismal record at New Orleanss Sacred Heart of Jesus Church. 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. In 1993, it gained renewed popularity when it was used in the film Sleepless in Seattle. Because of his long improvised solos, he inspired jazz so that long solos became an important part of jazz pieces and performances. Louis Armstrong was the most important and influential musician in jazz history. From 1925 to 1928, Armstrong made more than 60 records with the Hot Five and, later, the Hot Seven. Armstrong played the trumpet so powerfully that he often split his lip. 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. For live dates, he appeared with the orchestras led by Erskine Tate and Carroll Dickerson. What are some facts about Louis Armstrong?A Jewish immigrant family helped him buy his first horn. Armstrong first received musical training during a stint in juvenile detention. His wife helped jumpstart his solo career. Armstrong was one of the first celebrities to be arrested for drug possession. Encyclopdia Britannica, and create and manage the relationships between them. After recording with Oliver for over a year, Armstrong moved into what would become the most important early-jazz big band, Fletcher Hendersons Orchestra (Shipton 201). Its popularity brought many people together, even through the years of racial discrimination and the Great Depression. Study now. Despite failing to make a new record for two years, Armstrong remained a fan favorite. There are two kinds of music, the good and the bad. Armstrong was arrested at eleven years old for disturbing the peace. WebLouis Armstrong is arguably the most important musician that the United States has ever produced (Shipton 160). Armstrong was featured in the 1969 film of Hello, Dolly!, performing the title song as a duet with Barbra Streisand. 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. Rock Icon KISS Is Saying Goodbye (For Real), DOWNLOAD BIOGRAPHY'S LOUIS ARMSTRONG FACT CARD, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads, Name: Louis Armstrong, Birth Year: 1901, Birth date: August 4, 1901, Birth State: Louisiana, Birth City: New Orleans, Birth Country: United States, Best Known For: 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., Astrological Sign: Leo. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. However, conditions changed when he was requested to record the title number of a broadway show that went on to become a hit. One of the greatest cornet players in town, Joe "King" Oliver, began acting as a mentor to the young Armstrong, showing him pointers on the horn and occasionally using him as a sub. Armstrong had access to guns and decided to borrow a .38 that one of his stepfathers stored in a trunk in the Armstrong home (67). That didnt stop him from living his life like a regular boy. 2012-02-22 18:06:07. In 1936, Louis Armstrong became the first African American jazz musician to write an autobiography, Swing That Music. Together, Armstrong and Hines formed a potent team and made some of the greatest recordings in jazz history in 1928, including their virtuoso duet, "Weather Bird," and "West End Blues.". The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica, Dig Deeper: More Articles That Discuss This Topic, American actress, singer, director, producer. Thereafter until his death in 1971, however, Armstrong never publicly addressed whether he was in fact Sharon's father. If Armstrong never bought the cornet he would have never become famous. Armstrong practiced his instrument and eventually he became the jazz great everyone knows today. Louis Armstrong is famous for his stunning jazz performance, unique vocals, and amazing styles with the trumpet/cornet. Sources: He was often left with his grandmother, and left school in fifth grade to start working. Eldridge is the obvious link between Louis Armstrong and Dizzy Gillespie. Within a span of three years, Armstrong recorded over sixty records. Previously, Armstrong had performed throughout Europe, Asia, and Africathough he famously canceled a planned 1957 Soviet Union tour, citing the recent Little Rock crisis. Midway through the recording session, he accidentally dropped them and scatted to fill the ensuing silence. He was soon able to stop working manual labor jobs and began concentrating full-time on his cornet, playing parties, dances, funeral marches and at local "honky-tonks"a name for small bars that typically host musical acts. 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 Daniel (Louie) Armstrong is perhaps the most important and influential person in the history of jazz music, swing music, and jazz vocal styling. He married Lillian Harden, the pianist in the Oliver band, on February 5, 1924. 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. In 1922, his mentor, King Oliver, invited him to work his Creole Jazz Band in Chicago. In April, he reached the charts with his first vocal recording, "Big Butter and Egg Man," a duet with May Alix. Mozart had written over 600 pieces of works, many acknowledged his pinnacles of symphonic, concertante, chamber, operatic, and choral music. If the gun was not so easily accessible, his firing it and being arrested could have been prevented. All Rights Reserved. He subsequently passed, so the duo contacted Armstrong in August 1967. He didn't own an instrument at this time, If one was to go out into the street, walked up to a random stranger and asked them if they knew who Louis Armstrong was, chances are that they would be able to answer you correctly. A local Jewish family, the Karnofskys, gave young Armstrong a job collecting junk and delivering coal. In 1947, the waning popularity of the big bands forced Armstrong to begin fronting a small group, Louis Armstrong and His All Stars. He returned to Chicago in the spring of 1932 to front a band led by Zilner Randolph; the group toured around the country. 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. Louis Armstrong was important in the 1920's because he put a whole new meaning to jazz. At His Majestys command, several of the biggest names in jazz took their talents to Buckingham Palace, and in 1932, Armstrong was requested for a royal performance. Armstrong had gained sufficient individual notice to make his recording debut as a leader on November 12, 1925. He performed all over the world in the 1950s and '60s, including throughout Europe, Africa and Asia. In a strange turn of events, it was during this tour that Armstrong's career fell apart: Years of blowing high notes had taken a toll on Armstrong's lips, and, following a fight with his manager Johnny Collins who already managed to get Armstrong into trouble with the Mafia he was left stranded overseas by Collins. Armstrong completed his contract with Decca in 1954, after which his manager made the unusual decision not to sign him to another exclusive contract but instead have him freelance for different labels. Pops had a special place in his heart for both Chinese and Italian food. That same year, he recorded with small New Orleans-influenced groups, including the Hot Five, and began recording larger ensembles. You feel butterflies in your stomach as you take your seat. What was Louis Armstrongs childhood like? In America, Armstrong had been a great Civil Rights pioneer, breaking down numerous barriers as a young man. In a 1951 interview with Esquire, Armstrong claimed to have come prepared with printed lyrics that day. WebLouis Armstrong is arguably the most important musician that the United States has ever produced (Shipton 160). At the mention jazz music, that person will first think of is likely to be a great figure with a clown image, nicknamed Satchmo. A year later, he was honored with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. 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. His influence, both as an artist and cultural icon, is universal and is still relevant today. See answer (1) Best Answer. He was arrested for firing a pistol in He was also a talented singer, and his recordings of songs like What a Even the scepter of Uncle Tom that shadowed the outsized Satchmo during his career, and that Ellington essentially concurred with in an interview with Carter Harman in 1964, has faded. (Biography.com), Many people knew Louis Armstrong as the first real genius of jazz(Shipton 26). The civil rights movement was growing stronger with each passing year, with more protests, marches and speeches from African Americans wanting equal rights. This was the first time anyone had ever recorded this technique known as scat singing. The material may show why Armstrong was not just a giant of jazz music, but a civil rights leader as well. But Armstrong also became an enduring figure in popular music due to his distinctively phrased baritone singing and engaging personality, which were on display in a series of vocal recordings and film roles. After being released at age fourteen, he worked selling papers, unloading boats, and selling coal from a cart. However, conditions changed when he was requested to record the title number of a broadway show that went on to become a hit. By 1932, Armstrong, who was now known as Satchmo, had begun appearing in movies and made his first tour of England. "What a Wonderful World" peaked on the U.S. music charts after Armstrong passed away. Mob bosses from New York City and Chicago threatened Louis Armstrong in attempts to control his management contract. He attended Colored Waifs Home in 1913 for eighteen months. Louis Armstrong. They danced to the jazz music with a whole new style. Glaser did just that; within a few months, Armstrong had a new big band and was recording for Decca Records. Why Is Louis Armstrong Important. This led some to alter his long-time nickname, Satchmo, to "Ambassador Satch.". Louis Armstrong, also known as Ambassador Satch, was unofficially adopted by a family of Jewish immigrants from Lithuania who had a junk hauling business in Louisiana. He also began appearing in the orchestra of Hot Chocolates, a Broadway revue, and was given a featured spot singing "Ain't Misbehavin'." Shortly thereafter, Armstrong bragged about the child to his manager, Joe Glaser, in a letter that would later be published in the book Louis Armstrong In His Own Words (1999). He took up work in Joe (King) Olivers house, doing chores in exchange for musical lessons, developing into a. Louis Armstrong is a man of many talents and skills known for creating a new environment, especially in his home town of New Orleans. ", During the mid-'50s, Armstrong's popularity overseas skyrocketed. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. Armstrong fronted the Luis Russell Orchestra for a tour of the South in February 1930, and in May went to Los Angeles, where he led a band at Sebastian's Cotton Club for the next ten months. Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus sent in the National Guard to prevent the Little Rock Nine nine African American students from entering the public school. See answer (1) Best Answer. While growing up, Armstrong did assorted jobs for the Karnofskys, a family of Lithuanian-Jewish immigrants. Handy and Satch Plays Fats. I play the good kind (Armstrong). Louis Armstrong is considered a hero for many reasons. Contracted to OKeh Records, he began to make a series of recordings with studio-only groups called the Hot Fives or the Hot Sevens. Many great performers have come out of the jazz industry, but the most widely known is Louis Satchmo Armstrong. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. 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. Armstrong began to sing on the records, creating a new form of singing, scat singing. His rise to fame peaked in the 1920s, where he stunned the world with his bold trumpet style and idiosyncratic vocals. He spread jazz throughout the world. I ain't never heard a horse sing a song. 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. The Armstrongs moved into the home, where they would live for the rest of their lives, in 1943. Eventually tour ended and Louis went back home to continue his. Different from most of his recordings of the era, the song features no trumpet and places Armstrong's gravelly voice in the middle of a bed of strings and angelic voices. 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. Music historians recognize this as the first popular, mass-market scat ever recorded. 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. Why Is Louis Armstrong Important. In 1914, the home released him, and he immediately began dreaming of a life making music. Louis Armstrong was the greatest of all Jazz musicians. For the first time, Armstrong was really able to demonstrate his unique voice during those recording sessions. William Armstrong, his father, was a factory worker who abandoned the family soon after the boy's birth. To earn money, Armstrong sang on street corners, sold newspapers, and delivered coal. He was a master of the trumpet and cornet, and his style of playing was unique and instantly recognizable. Sure enough, he explained, they [published] Heebie Jeebies the same way it was mistakenly recorded. However, most biographers believe that Armstrong made up this anecdote and had planned on scatting all along. Then along came a bare-knuckled comedy called Good Morning, Vietnam (1987). 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. Armstrong brought. he put his soul and dedicated his life to his music. The new style that he created gave a voice-like quality to his horn. Louis Armstrong was important in the 1920's because he put a whole new meaning to jazz. Armstrong and Oliver became the talk of the town with their intricate two-cornet breaks and started making records together in 1923. Since New Orleans style jazz known to man, it was one of the broadest genres of jazz. Personnel changed over the years but this remained Armstrongs main performing vehicle for the rest of his career. Released from the Waifs Home in 1914, Armstrong set his sights on becoming a professional musician. (1964), the latter knocking the Beatles off the top of the pop charts at the height of Beatlemania. An all-star virtuoso, he came to prominence in the 1920s, influencing countless musicians with both his daring trumpet style and unique vocals. Henderson also forbade Armstrong from singing, fearing that his rough way of vocalizing would be too coarse for the sophisticated audiences at the Roseland Ballroom. Together with his mom, they moved to a better area of New Orleans. Born, August 4, 1901 he started off in a harder life than most people usually do. He was also a gifted singer, and his Why was Louis Armstrong so important? Dancers loved Hendersons music making Louis Armstrong a celebrity so when he left his old band, this would be a step up. He started as a soloist for Henderson after marrying Lil Hardin. There, he received musical instruction on the cornet and fell in love with music. 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. On New Year's Eve in 1912, Armstrong fired his stepfather's gun in the air during a New Year's Eve celebration and was arrested on the spot. Between 1952 and 1955, Armstrong shed 100 pounds. When Armstrong returned to Chicago in 1935, he had no band, no engagements and no recording contract. By February 1927, Armstrong was well-enough known to front his own group, Louis Armstrong & His Stompers, at the Sunset Caf in Chicago.
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