Love, baby - love. Louis Armstrong is arguably the most important musician that the United States has ever produced (Shipton 160). Louis Armstrong was an American jazz musician who was one of the most influential figures in jazz music. Coupled with his astonishing performing skills and charismatic stage presence, Armstrong took the world by storm and popularized jazz as we know it today. Armstrong's new manager, Joe Glaser, organized a big band for him that had its premiere in Indianapolis on July 1, 1935; for the next several years, he toured regularly. Louis Armstrong Armstrong continued to tour extensively, despite a heart attack in June 1959. According to this document, the performers actual birth date was August 4, 1901. Related. He found that the only way to reap the benefits of success and be protected was if there was a white captain to back you in the old days (Armstrong). Armstrong was obligated to leave school in the fifth grade to begin working. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. There are two kinds of music, the good and the bad. Armstrong was arrested at eleven years old for disturbing the peace. One of the first many New Orleans style jazz artists is Jelly Roll Morton. Copy. ", 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.". He was a master of the trumpet and a skilled improviser, and his style of playing influenced many other jazz musicians. 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. Why was Louis Armstrong always smiling The most important and influential musician in jazz history, and one of the leading singers and entertainers from the 1920s through the '50s. He worked for to get his instrument because his mother couldn't afford to buy him one. 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. Armstrong had a difficult childhood: His father was a factory worker and abandoned the family soon after Louis's birth. Armstrong used to say that hed been born on July 4, 1900. 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.". Why Mozart had written over 600 pieces of works, many acknowledged his pinnacles of symphonic, concertante, chamber, operatic, and choral music. Why is Louis Armstrong Louis Armstrong was the first black man in the U.S. to host a radio show. BenFred: Cardinals are cranking volume up on star prospect Jordan He was then sent to the Colored Waif's Home for Boys. In 1936, Louis Armstrong became the first African American jazz musician to write an autobiography, Swing That Music. Louis Armstrong is one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. It is said that during a session, Armstrong dropped his sheet music and started mimicking the sounds of the horn with his voice. Personnel changed over the years but this remained Armstrongs main performing vehicle for the rest of his career. WebLouis Armstrong is arguably the most important musician that the United States has ever produced (Shipton 160). His rise to fame peaked in the 1920s, where he stunned the world with his bold trumpet style and idiosyncratic vocals. However, conditions changed when he was requested to record the title number of a broadway show that went on to become a hit. Armstrong made his first trip abroad, to Europe, and received the nickname Satchmo from his original nickname Satchelmouth, because of his big lips. Bebop, a new form of jazz, had blossomed in the 1940s. With his amazing voice trumpet he created a band and made some records. He subsequently passed, so the duo contacted Armstrong in August 1967. Why One day, they even advanced him the $5 he used to buy his very first horn. Who Is Louis Armstrong And Why Is He Important To Jazz Music? His mother, Mayann, was 15 years old when he was born and his father, Willie, abandoned them soon after. In 1964, he scored a surprise hit with his recording of the title song from the Broadway musical Hello, Dolly!, which reached number one in May, followed by a gold-selling album of the same name. One of the most important figures in 20th century music, Armstrong's innovations as a trumpeter and vocalist are widely recognized today, and will continue to be for decades to come. 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. WebImportance of Louis Armstrong. Louis Armstrong is one of the most influential jazz musicians of all time. he is important because he was the first black singer. Some even theorize that it was Armstrongs difficult upbringing that made his music so wise, so unique, and so revolutionary. 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. Armstrong was the primary ever "Genius" of jazz music. Armstrong fought back, but for many young jazz fans, he was regarded as an out-of-date performer with his best days behind him. 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). In fact, before marrying his fourth wife, he made sure that she could cook a satisfactory plateful. (Biography.com), Many people knew Louis Armstrong as the first real genius of jazz(Shipton 26). This led some to alter his long-time nickname, Satchmo, to "Ambassador Satch.". Armstrong practiced his instrument and eventually he became the jazz great everyone knows today. During his time there, he learned how to play the bugle cornet, an instrument that is similar to the trumpet. Louis Armstrong was a pivotal musician in the twentieth century, but it was his contributions and his role he made during the Harlem Renaissance movement that is most substantial. All Rights Reserved. The tune did, however, become a No. A YouTube poster named pandasthumb describes the piece. He influenced other jazz musicians by his fearless trumpet styles and distinctive vocals. That same year, he recorded with small New Orleans-influenced groups, including the Hot Five, and began recording larger ensembles. 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 WebRather than appealing simply to the crowd of already established jazz lovers, Louis Armstrong was effective at bridging the gap and reaching out to those that may not have been as familiar with the genre and effectively serving as one of the best ambassadors that the jazz world has ever known. 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 made his film debut in Ex-Flame, released at the end of 1931. This newfound popularity introduced Armstrong to a new, younger audience, and he continued making both successful records and concert appearances for the rest of the decade, even cracking the "Iron Curtain" with a tour of Communist countries such as East Berlin and Czechoslovakia in 1965. It started in New Orleans and over the years, stretched out throughout the whole United States. Making money ain't nothing exciting to me. Armstrong moved to Chicago to join Oliver's band in August 1922 and made his first recordings as a member of the group in the spring of 1923. The civil rights movement was growing stronger with each passing year, with more protests, marches and speeches from African Americans wanting equal rights. 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. He also began singing on these recordings, popularizing wordless "scat singing" with his hugely popular vocal on 1926's "Heebie Jeebies.". His music had had a major effect on "swing" and the big band sound. He spread jazz throughout the world. The passion for his music made him become famous because he was following his dreams while finding his, How Is Louis Daniel Armstrong Morally Responsible, Louis Daniel Armstrong (August 4, 1901 - July 6, 1971) grew up in a poor neighborhood nicknamed The Battlefield in New Orleans, Louisiana. In 1988, music historian Thaddeus Tad Jones located a baptismal record at New Orleanss Sacred Heart of Jesus Church. At the school he learned to play cornet. The most important and influential musician in jazz history, and one of the leading singers and entertainers from the 1920s through the '50s. Every time I close my eyes blowing that trumpet of mine, I look right into the heart of good old New Orleans. See answer (1) Best Answer. Together with his mom, they moved to a better area of New Orleans. Louis began playing at a young age when he was growing up in New Orleans. 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. Louis Armstrong was an outstanding jazz musician during the Harlem Renaissance Era. The first recording of What a Wonderful World was produced by ABC Records, which made no attempt to advertise it domestically. 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. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. These views changed in 1957, when Armstrong saw the Little Rock Central High School integration crisis on television. This pop success was repeated internationally four years later with "What a Wonderful World," which hit number one in the U.K. in April 1968. 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. His notoriety for being the best jazz player of his time was secured as Armstrong's arrangement of swing and melodic development opened out and changed Henderson's band and in addition jazz overall. He was also a talented singer, and his recordings of songs like What a Why Louis Armstrong Heart and kidney problems forced him to stop performing in 1969. 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. Why was Louis Armstrong important to the Harlem Renaissance? With his infectious smile and raspy voice, Louis Armstrong (who actually pronounced his own name "Lewis") won over fans worldwide. From 1925 to 1928, Armstrong made more than 60 records with the Hot Five and, later, the Hot Seven. They were always kind to me, Armstrong once reflected, [I] was just a little kid who could use a little word of kindness. Apart from monetary compensation, Armstrong was given a hot meal every evening and regular invitations to Karnofsky Shabbat dinners. It won him a Grammy for best vocal performance. Biography - Louis Armstrong Home Museum Louis Armstrong was to jazz music what Bach is to classical music, Presley is to rock music (Berrett 230). Armstrong defined what it was to play Jazz. 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. he put his soul and dedicated his life to his music. While growing up, Armstrong did assorted jobs for the Karnofskys, a family of Lithuanian-Jewish immigrants. 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. 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). WebToday, Louis Armstrong holds the title as the worlds greatest jazz player. Within a span of three years, Armstrong recorded over sixty records. Why Is Louis Armstrong Important - 1689 Words | Cram He returned to Broadway in the short-lived musical Swingin' the Dream in November 1939. A year later, he was honored with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. He would attend parades, funerals, churches and go to cheap cabarets to be able to hear some of the greats play, Little Louis sung in a vocal quartet in his early teens. When Pops (who adored Thiele and Weiss masterwork) passed away on July 6, 1971, What a Wonderful World seemed destined for stateside obscurity. In 1993, it gained renewed popularity when it was used in the film Sleepless in Seattle. See answer (1) Best Answer. However, conditions changed when he was requested to record the title number of a broadway show that went on to become a hit. The man was Louis Armstrong. 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. Louis Armstrong (Aug 4th, 1901 - Jul 6th, 1971) was an American trumpeter, composer, singer and occasional actor who became one of the most influential figures in jazz. Life & Legacy Louis Armstrong Society Jazz Band Why Louis Armstrong's "West End Blues" is Important Armstrong spent his youth singing on the street for spare change, but he didnt receive any formal musical training until age 11. Back in Chicago, OKeh Records decided to let Armstrong make his first records with a band under his own name: Louis Armstrong and his Hot Five. He embarked on his first European tour since 1935 in February 1948, and thereafter toured regularly around the world. Armstrong was a busy man, he always had more than one thing going on, if he wasnt recording with Hot Five/Seven, he was performing in the Vendome theatre, playing music for silent movies.. Armstrong felt that being subservient to white people, was an unfortunately necessary evil in order for him to live successfully and happily.