why is louis armstrong important

WebLouis Armstrong is arguably the most important musician that the United States has ever produced (Shipton 160). Although the ballad topped the 1968 charts in Great Britain, American sales were abysmal. Handy and Satch Plays Fats. He attended school until he was in the 5th grade, he stopped going to help support his family. In April, he reached the charts with his first vocal recording, "Big Butter and Egg Man," a duet with May Alix. 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 While only a DNA test could officially prove whether a blood relationship does exist between Armstrong and Sharon and one has never been conducted between the two believers and skeptics can at least agree on one thing: Sharon's uncanny resemblance to the jazz legend. During this time, Armstrong adopted a three-year-old boy named Clarence. He was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on August 4, 1901. Louis Armstrong was the first black man in the U.S. to host a radio show. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. In fact, before marrying his fourth wife, he made sure that she could cook a satisfactory plateful. He was from a very poor family and was sent to reform school when he was twelve after firing a gun in the air on New Year's Eve. Larkin states, "It is impossible to overstate Louis 'Satchmo' Armstrong's importance in jazz." Armstrong defined what it was to play Jazz. West End Blues by Louis Armstrong is one of the most important songs in jazz. Mozart, in his own traditional ways, the right away he did the first three of his 22 performances at that opera. "What a Wonderful World" peaked on the U.S. music charts after Armstrong passed away. WebA 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. 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. 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. He is also the first African American celebrity to appear in a major Hollywood movie. Featuring young geniuses such as Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker and Miles Davis, the younger generation of musicians saw themselves as artists, not as entertainers. He began touring the country in the 1940s. An early job working for the Jewish Karnofsky family allowed Armstrong to make enough money to purchase his first cornet. Louis Armstrong was the greatest of all Jazz musicians. Released from the Waifs Home in 1914, Armstrong set his sights on becoming a professional musician. "What a Wonderful World" peaked on the U.S. music charts after Armstrong passed away. Aint that stupid? Louis Armstrong is famous for his stunning jazz performance, unique vocals, and amazing styles with the trumpet/cornet. In 1947, the waning popularity of the big bands forced Armstrong to begin fronting a small group, Louis Armstrong and His All Stars. 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. Armstrong returned home in May 1971, and though he soon resumed playing again and promised to perform in public once more, he died in his sleep on July 6, 1971, at his home in Queens, New York. 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. Flappers were commonly known during this time. But you get sick just like the next cat and when you die you're just as graveyard dead as he is. For this, he is revered by jazz fans. 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. Louis Armstrong was the most important and influential musician in jazz history. Show More. 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. He returned to Chicago in the spring of 1932 to front a band led by Zilner Randolph; the group toured around the country. .css-47aoac{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:inherit;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:#A00000;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-47aoac:hover{color:#595959;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;}DOWNLOAD BIOGRAPHY'S LOUIS ARMSTRONG FACT CARD. The colors of the rainbow, so pretty in the sky are also on the faces of people going by. In September, his recording of that song entered the charts, becoming a Top Ten hit. Another one of Armstrongs notable qualities, scat singing (wordless singing/mummering) was also popularized during this. His Top Ten version of "Hobo, You Can't Ride This Train," in the charts in early 1933, was on Victor Records; when he returned to the U.S. in 1935, he signed to the recently formed Decca Records and quickly scored a double-sided Top Ten hit, "I'm in the Mood for Love"/"You Are My Lucky Star.". Career highlights, compiled by the Louis Armstrong House Museum: The new style that he created gave a voice-like quality to his horn. Given that Armstrong was only 11, it was (one of) his stepfathers who was responsible for the whole series of events. 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. Eldridge is the obvious link between Louis Armstrong and Dizzy Gillespie. As a trumpet virtuoso, his playing, beginning with the 1920s studio recordings he made with his Hot Five and Hot Seven ensembles, charted a future for jazz in highly imaginative, emotionally charged improvisation. His career spanned many decades, from the 1920s to his death in 1971, and many different eras in jazz. Their marriage was not a happy one, however, and they divorced in 1942. 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. I play the good kind (Armstrong). Millions of people, starting in the 1930s until today, have agreed with Louis Armstrongs famous words and have been huge fans of the famous musician. The man was Louis Armstrong. 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. The story behind the jazz legends final hit and, quite simply, one of the most beautiful songs ever written. He spread jazz throughout the world. 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. However, conditions changed when he was requested to record the title number of a broadway show that went on to become a hit. At the mention jazz music, that person will first think of is likely to be a great figure with a clown image, nicknamed Satchmo. His resurgence in the '60s with hit recordings like 1965's Grammy-winning "Hello Dolly" and 1968's classic "What a Wonderful World" solidified his legacy as a musical and cultural icon. Changing jazz into what was once known as a ensemble music to soloist art. The bright blessed day, the dark sacred night. 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. A young pianist from Pittsburgh, Earl Hines, assimilated Armstrong's ideas into his piano playing. However, had his upbringing been different, his musical talents may never have been established to grow and thrive into one of the most internationally influential jazz musicians ever. He was also a frequent presence on radio, and often broke box-office records at the height of what is now known as the "Swing Era. Armstrong returned to New York with his band for an engagement at Connie's Inn in Harlem in May 1929. Love, baby - love. 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. Show More. Louis Armstrong was called "the single most important figure in the history of jazz" by Billboard magazine, a publication that tracks the recording industry. 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. Armstrong brought. (Armstrong did not function as a bandleader in the usual sense, but instead typically lent his name to established groups.) Then, at the age of five, he was returned to the care of his mother, who at the time worked as a laundress. It has given me something to live for. Armstrong used to say that hed been born on July 4, 1900. In addition, his mother did not have a stable job and with his father long out of the picture, life was hard for young Armstrong. During his span, he composed thousands of songs for everyone to hear. 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. Armstrong began to sing on the records, creating a new form of singing, scat singing. 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. 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). I ain't never heard a horse sing a song. There was a cheerful impatience in his playing, an optimistic confidence that led him to risk going over the top (Shipton 157). While not officially government-sponsored, there are some who believe the concert was arranged by the CIA, which would make this just one of the many taxpayer-funded appearances hed make abroad during the Cold War in an effort to strengthen diplomatic relations overseas. From 1925 to 1928, Armstrong made more than 60 records with the Hot Five and, later, the Hot Seven. By 1968, Armstrong's grueling lifestyle had finally caught up with him. 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. 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). 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. The 1930s also found Armstrong achieving great popularity on radio, in films, and with his recordings. He returned to Broadway in the short-lived musical Swingin' the Dream in November 1939. 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. Armstrong was obligated to leave school in the fifth grade to begin working. The family treated Armstrong like a member, bought him his first trumpet, and encouraged his musical aspirations. Louis was able to get hired as a junk collecter and coal deliverer. Armstrong had gained sufficient individual notice to make his recording debut as a leader on November 12, 1925. 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. By that point, Armstrong began dating the pianist in the band, Lillian Hardin. He made his film debut in Ex-Flame, released at the end of 1931. 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. (Jazz From New Orleans, Jazz music was one of the most popular music genres in the 1920s and 1930s. Armstrong's words made front-page news around the world. 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. In December of that year, he was called into the studio to record the title number for a Broadway show that hadn't opened yet: Hello, Dolly! In 1988, music historian Thaddeus Tad Jones located a baptismal record at New Orleanss Sacred Heart of Jesus Church. 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. Armstrong fought back, but for many young jazz fans, he was regarded as an out-of-date performer with his best days behind him. 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. 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. Dancers loved Hendersons music making Louis Armstrong a celebrity so when he left his old band, this would be a step up. Since New Orleans style jazz known to man, it was one of the broadest genres of jazz. Mob bosses from New York City and Chicago threatened Louis Armstrong in attempts to control his management contract. In 1922, his mentor, King Oliver, invited him to work his Creole Jazz Band in Chicago. However, a heart attack two days after the Waldorf gig sidelined him for two months. 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. During this period, Armstrong set a number of African American "firsts." By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. 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.". Armstrong spent much of that year at home, but managed to continue practicing the trumpet daily. 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. His mother, who often turned to prostitution, frequently left him with his maternal grandmother. 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. This essay will have an introduction of the king of jazz music -- Louis Armstrong and his great influence on jazz history. Biography and associated logos are trademarks of A+E Networksprotected in the US and other countries around the globe. With his amazing voice trumpet he created a band and made some records. He was also a talented singer, and his recordings of songs like What a 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). In 1937, Louis Armstrong became the first African American entertainer to host a nationally sponsored radio show. The letters, dated as far back as 1968, prove that Armstrong had indeed always believed Sharon to be his daughter, and that he even paid for her education and home, among several other things, throughout his life. Making money ain't nothing exciting to me. 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. After a successful engagement in Las Vegas, Armstrong began taking engagements around the world, including in London and Washington, D.C. and New York (he performed for two weeks at New York's Waldorf-Astoria). When Pops (who adored Thiele and Weiss masterwork) passed away on July 6, 1971, What a Wonderful World seemed destined for stateside obscurity. Because of his long improvised solos, he inspired jazz so that long solos became an important part of jazz pieces and performances. See answer (1) Best Answer. The most important and influential musician in jazz history, and one of the leading singers and entertainers from the 1920s through the '50s. 2012-02-22 18:06:07. It started in New Orleans and over the years, stretched out throughout the whole United States. The movie he appeared in was Pennies from Heaven (1936). It won him a Grammy for best vocal performance. The Armstrongs moved into the home, where they would live for the rest of their lives, in 1943. 1 slot in May 1964, and knocking the Beatles off the top at the height of Beatlemania. There were many jazz musicians. he put his soul and dedicated his life to his music. He has many nicknames in which some are Satchmo and Pops. Fletcher Henderson also influenced jazz music. But, as a Bayou State native, Armstrongs favorite dish was always rice and beans. The civil rights movement was growing stronger with each passing year, with more protests, marches and speeches from African Americans wanting equal rights. Louis Armstrong was the greatest of all Jazz musicians. WebLouis Armstrong was the protege of King Oliver and one of the best loved musicians of the Twenties. 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. he is important because he was the first black singer. He embarked on his first European tour since 1935 in February 1948, and thereafter toured regularly around the world. While he still had to work odd jobs selling newspapers and hauling coal to the city's famed red-light district, Armstrong began earning a reputation as a fine blues player. Seeing "the writing on the wall," Armstrong scaled down to a smaller six-piece combo, the All Stars; personnel would frequently change, but this would be the group Armstrong would perform live with until the end of his career. His influence, both as an artist and cultural icon, is universal and is still relevant today. There, he received musical instruction on the cornet and fell in love with music. The song for which Pops is most widely remembered, What a Wonderful World, was almost never his song at all. To earn money, Armstrong sang on street corners, sold newspapers, and delivered coal. Eldridge is the obvious link between Louis Armstrong and Dizzy Gillespie. Eldridge is the obvious link between Louis Armstrong and Dizzy Gillespie. The year 1956 saw Louisiana prohibit integrated bands. Armstrong continued touring the world and making records with songs like Blueberry Hill (1949), Mack the Knife (1955) and Hello, Dolly! That same year, he recorded with small New Orleans-influenced groups, including the Hot Five, and began recording larger ensembles. 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). With his daring rhythmic choice, swinging vocabulary, and incredibly high notes; changing jazz history once again. Instead he used his talent as a ticket to improve his lot and create a meaningful life. Despite failing to make a new record for two years, Armstrong remained a fan favorite. 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. His crucial contribution to American and world culture continues to reverberate into the 21 st century. 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. Its definitely worth checking out. Louis Armstrong was an outstanding jazz musician during the Harlem Renaissance Era. 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. 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. 1. 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). At the start of Armstrongs career, he married Daisy Parker. Hes a professional jazz performer who played with Oliver and Henderson. Louis Armstrong is arguably the most important musician that the United States has ever produced (Shipton 160). 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). Though he had finally spoken out after years of remaining publicly silent, he received criticism at the time from both Black and white public figures. His influence, both as an artist and Study now. In 1993, it gained renewed popularity when it was used in the film Sleepless in Seattle. He began following him and eventually Oliver became Armstrongs mentor. Louis continued to spread his style by touring other countries. Study now. This led some to alter his long-time nickname, Satchmo, to "Ambassador Satch.". Heebie Jeebies and Hotter Than That, was some of the earliest recordings of Armstrongs scat singing., He was a major piece in the history of jazz music and his career lasted for more than 50 years. Jelly Roll Morton was a great pianist and arranger from New Orleans., He not only produce one impressive improvised solo after another, but he also raised the bar for jazz vocals. He influenced countless other musicians and helped to shape the course of jazz. Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus sent in the National Guard to prevent the Little Rock Nine nine African American students from entering the public school. Armstrong was featured in the 1969 film of Hello, Dolly!, performing the title song as a duet with Barbra Streisand. Beginning in 1919, Armstrong spent his summers playing on riverboats with a band led by Fate Marable. What made jazz continuously popular was the way it progressed. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. However, conditions changed when he was requested to record the title number of a broadway show that went on to become a hit. WebLouis Armstrong was a key asset to the Harlem Renaissance due to his inspiring music and playing his instruments for African Americans people during this period. Similarly, many of his most influential recordings, like 1928's "West End Blues" and 1955's "Mack the Knife," have been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Louis Armstrong was successful in jazz because he learned on his own with daily practice while influencing others with his music by making smiles appear on their face. WebWhy Is Louis Armstrong Important. 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 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. The tune did, however, become a No. While performing with Tate in 1926, Armstrong finally switched from the cornet to the trumpet. 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. However, conditions changed when he was requested to record the title number of a broadway show that went on to become a hit. (She was the second of his four wives.) The lights dim, and the velvet curtains slide open. During his time there, he learned how to play the bugle cornet, an instrument that is similar to the trumpet. Glaser did just that; within a few months, Armstrong had a new big band and was recording for Decca Records.

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