He was released on June 16, 1914, and did manual labor while trying to establish himself as a musician. Unhappy, Armstrong left Henderson in 1925 to return to Chicago, where he began playing with his wife's band at the Dreamland Caf. 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. Midway through the recording session, he accidentally dropped them and scatted to fill the ensuing silence. He started as a soloist for Henderson after marrying Lil Hardin. With her encouragement, he left Oliver and joined Fletcher Henderson's band in New York, staying for a year and then going back to Chicago in November 1925 to join the Dreamland Syncopators, his wife's group. 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. 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. The bottom line of any country in the world is what did we contribute to the world? By the end of his teens, Armstrong had grown up fast. Some even theorize that it was Armstrongs difficult upbringing that made his music so wise, so unique, and so revolutionary. 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. Perhaps most importantly, the letters also detail Armstrong's fatherly love for Sharon. 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.. He began touring the country in the 1940s. His amazing technical abilities, the joy and spontaneity, and amazingly quick, inventive musical mind still dominate Jazz to this day. 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. Louis continued to spread his style by touring other countries. As swing and jazz was dominant as the pop music of the early 20th century, his influence is also evident in the transition from swing and jump blues into rock and roll. 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. Given his popularity, his long career, and the extensive label-jumping he did in his later years, as well as the differing jazz and pop sides of his work, his recordings are extensive and diverse, with parts of his catalog owned by numerous companies. Between 1952 and 1955, Armstrong shed 100 pounds. He began following him and eventually Oliver became Armstrongs mentor. His crucial contribution to American and world culture continues to reverberate into the 21 st century. The Armstrongs moved into the home, where they would live for the rest of their lives, in 1943. Louis Armstrong is one of the most influential jazz musicians of all time. You feel butterflies in your stomach as you take your seat. The man was Louis Armstrong. The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica, Dig Deeper: More Articles That Discuss This Topic, American actress, singer, director, producer. 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. Armstrong spent the last decade of his life similarly that he had spent the four past enthralling groups of onlookers all through the world., Louis Blues, Overall Armstrong wrote and performed some of the most popular and well known jazz songs of all time. WebImportance of Louis 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. A YouTube poster named pandasthumb describes the piece. He embarked on his first European tour since 1935 in February 1948, and thereafter toured regularly around the world. 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. 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. In 1972, a year after his death, he received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Why was Louis Armstrong important to New Orleans? While growing up, Armstrong did assorted jobs for the Karnofskys, a family of Lithuanian-Jewish immigrants. Why Is Louis Armstrong Important. WebWhy Is Louis Armstrong Important. He was raised by his mother Mayann in a neighborhood so dangerous it was called The Battlefield. He only had a fifth-grade education, dropping out of school early to go to work. With his daring rhythmic choice, swinging vocabulary, and incredibly high notes; changing jazz history once again. He married Lillian Harden, the pianist in the Oliver band, on February 5, 1924. During his time there, he learned how to play the bugle cornet, an instrument that is similar to the trumpet. It has given me something to live for. 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). Why Louis Armstrong was important? Within a span of three years, Armstrong recorded over sixty records. Armstrong accepted, and he was soon taking Chicago by storm with both his remarkably fiery playing and the dazzling two-cornet breaks that he shared with Oliver. He studied music there and played cornet and bugle in the school band, eventually becoming its leader. 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. He showed an early interest in music, and a junk dealer for whom he worked as a grade-school student helped him buy a cornet, which he taught himself to play. However, conditions changed when he was requested to record the title number of a broadway show that went on to become a hit. Louis Armstrong was the first black man in the U.S. to host a radio show. Copy. A year later, he was honored with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. How did Louis Armstrong influence others? Show More. In July, Armstrong sailed to England for a tour. Armstrong was featured nightly on Ain't Misbehavin', breaking up the crowds of (mostly white) theatergoers nightly. He made his first recordings with Oliver on April 5, 1923; that day, he earned his first recorded solo on "Chimes Blues.". The Information Architects maintain a master list of the topics included in the corpus of 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. His mother, Mayann, was 15 years old when he was born and his father, Willie, abandoned them soon after. 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. In fifth grade, while being taken care of by his maternal grandmother most of the time, he left school to work. Armstrong had gained sufficient individual notice to make his recording debut as a leader on November 12, 1925. 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). There was a cheerful impatience in his playing, an optimistic confidence that led him to risk going over the top (Shipton 157). An early job working for the Jewish Karnofsky family allowed Armstrong to make enough money to purchase his first cornet. That same year, Armstrong married for the fourth and final time; he wed Lucille Wilson, a Cotton Club dancer. In 1924, Armstrong married Hardin, who urged Armstrong to leave Oliver and try to make it on his own. Armstrong continued to tour extensively, despite a heart attack in June 1959. One of the first many New Orleans style jazz artists is Jelly Roll Morton. The record was released in 1964 and quickly climbed to the top of the pop music charts, hitting the No. He faced tremendous adversity, ignorance and hatred in his life, and fought back without sinking to the level of those who opposed him. His style was unique and his talent was undeniable. 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 remembered as the most influential artist in the early development of jazz. Satch Plays Fats, a tribute to Fats Waller, became a Top Ten LP for Columbia in October 1955, and Verve Records contracted Armstrong for a series of recordings with Ella Fitzgerald, beginning with the chart LP Ella and Louis in 1956. 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). That's the secret. Armstrong was arrested at eleven years old for disturbing the peace. The story behind the jazz legends final hit and, quite simply, one of the most beautiful songs ever written. 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. Each of the books on jazz music will mention his name. Louis Armstrong is one of the most important jazz figures. We strive for accuracy and fairness.If you see something that doesn't look right,contact us! He was also a gifted singer, and his 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. 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. Its definitely worth checking out. .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. Armstrong defined what it was to play Jazz. (1964), the latter knocking the Beatles off the top of the pop charts at the height of Beatlemania. Heart and kidney problems forced him to stop performing in 1969. Jazz is a genre of music that brought a whole community of people together. 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. 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. After they married in 1924, Hardin made it clear that she felt Oliver was holding Armstrong back. He has many nicknames in which some are Satchmo and Pops. The many years of constant touring eventually wore down Armstrong, who had his first heart attack in 1959 and returned to intensive care at Beth Israel Hospital for heart and kidney trouble in 1968. Turns out, he was 13 months off. 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. 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.. To grasp how much the man adored this entre, consider that he often signed his personal letters with Red Beans and Ricely Yours.. They treat me better all over the world than they do in my hometown, he said. The way they are treating my people in the South, declared Armstrong, the government can go to hell.. Louis was able to get hired as a junk collecter and coal deliverer. 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. 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. 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. WebLouis Armstrong was the protege of King Oliver and one of the best loved musicians of the Twenties. Armstrong was one of the first very popular, Being raised in a part of New Orleans known as "The Battlefield" because of its faulty economic situation is not ideal. 232) Armstrong unlike other black jazz men and women, was one of the first to be welcomed in the upper echelons of white society. This led some to alter his long-time nickname, Satchmo, to "Ambassador Satch.". The Hot Five and Hot Seven were strictly recording groups; Armstrong performed nightly during this period with Erskine Tate's orchestra at the Vendome Theater, often playing music for silent movies. This was the first time anyone had ever recorded this technique known as scat singing. In America, Armstrong had been a great Civil Rights pioneer, breaking down numerous barriers as a young man. If the gun was not so easily accessible, his firing it and being arrested could have been prevented. He spread jazz throughout the world. Armstrong made his first trip abroad, to Europe, and received the nickname Satchmo from his original nickname Satchelmouth, because of his big lips. Louis Armstrong was born in New Orleans in 1901. Armstrong was brought up by his mother, Mary (Albert) Armstrong, and his maternal grandmother. When Louis Armstrong was placed in a boys home as a young boy, he was presented with the opportunity to play the cornet. Contracted to OKeh Records, he began to make a series of recordings with studio-only groups called the Hot Fives or the Hot Sevens. Pillars of Life 3 y Related Why was jazz so important? Armstrong continued to appear in major films with the likes of Mae West, Martha Raye and Dick Powell. The year 1956 saw Louisiana prohibit integrated bands. (Cayton, 462) Armstrong was the king of jazz trumpet players. 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. 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. His career rose in New Orleans. Armstrong had a great influence on Henderson and his arranger, Don Redman, both of whom began integrating Armstrong's swinging vocabulary into their arrangementstransforming Henderson's band into what is generally regarded as the first jazz big band. He subsequently passed, so the duo contacted Armstrong in August 1967. Flappers were commonly known during this time. 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. However, conditions changed when he was requested to record the title number of a broadway show that went on to become a hit. 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 made his film debut in Ex-Flame, released at the end of 1931. 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. 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. Why is Louis Armstrong important in the 20's? Eldridge is the obvious link between Louis Armstrong and Dizzy Gillespie. Doctors advised him not to play but Armstrong continued to practice every day in his Corona, Queens home, where he had lived with his fourth wife, Lucille, since 1943. Louis did his first performance on stage in 1930 to spread his Jazz style. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. Site contains certain content that is owned A&E Television Networks, LLC. 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. 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. 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 1930s also found Armstrong achieving great popularity on radio, in films, and with his recordings. 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. By that point, Armstrong began dating the pianist in the band, Lillian Hardin. 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. There are two kinds of music, the good and the bad. In 16967, Armstrong recorded his most renowned tune, What a Wonderful Word that surprisingly featured no trumpet. His charismatic stage presence impressed not only the jazz world but all of popular music. Larkin states, "It is impossible to overstate Louis 'Satchmo' Armstrong's importance in jazz." 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. In a 1951 interview with Esquire, Armstrong claimed to have come prepared with printed lyrics that day. Pops had a special place in his heart for both Chinese and Italian food. 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 was the primary ever "Genius" of jazz music. Since New Orleans style jazz known to man, it was one of the broadest genres of jazz. But, as a Bayou State native, Armstrongs favorite dish was always rice and beans. WebDid You Know? When Pops (who adored Thiele and Weiss masterwork) passed away on July 6, 1971, What a Wonderful World seemed destined for stateside obscurity. Like almost all early Jazz musicians, Louis was from New Orleans. Throughout the years, jazz musicians have created many new styles, new arrangements, and put this genre of music on the map., He affected the heading of jazz music and spontaneous creation. His fame rose when he composed several masterworks in the 1940s. He was arrested for firing a pistol in The most important and influential musician in jazz history, and one of the leading singers and entertainers from the 1920s through the '50s. Louis Daniel (Louie) Armstrong is perhaps the most important and influential person in the history of jazz music, swing music, and jazz vocal styling. 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. 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. Wiki User. 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. He interprets and contributes to the genre of jazz, creates great form through his performance in the Hot Chocolates, and his work represents a whole for equality and the civil rights movement. 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. Blessed with, Armstrong was born in New Orleans on August 4, 1901. Armstrong was obligated to leave school in the fifth grade to begin working. He also learned to sing. Meanwhile, Armstrong's reputation as a musician continued to grow: In 1918, he replaced Oliver in Kid Ory's band, then the most popular band in New Orleans. 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. In September, his recording of that song entered the charts, becoming a Top Ten hit. He is a husky singer, often with a trumpet in his hand. (She was the second of his four wives.) These views changed in 1957, when Armstrong saw the Little Rock Central High School integration crisis on television. Mob bosses from New York City and Chicago threatened Louis Armstrong in attempts to control his management contract. 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. When Armstrong returned to Chicago in 1935, he had no band, no engagements and no recording contract. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. 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. Handy and Satch Plays Fats. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Louis Armstrong. Copy. Louis Armstrong was an American jazz musician who was one of the most influential figures in jazz music. Released from the Waifs Home in 1914, Armstrong set his sights on becoming a professional musician. 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.". Nobody did what Louis could do. His stop-time solos on numbers like "Cornet Chop Suey" and "Potato Head Blues" changed jazz history, featuring daring rhythmic choices, swinging phrasing and incredible high notes. 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. he is important because he was the first black singer. With the decline of swing music in the post-World War II years, Armstrong broke up his big band and put together a small group dubbed His All-Stars, which made its debut in Los Angeles on August 13, 1947. Armstrong began to sing on the records, creating a new form of singing, scat singing. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. He also began singing on these recordings, popularizing wordless "scat singing" with his hugely popular vocal on 1926's "Heebie Jeebies.". He sang much as he played, but with a playfulness and a rasp, that would forever be part of American culture (Winfield 167). 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. Louis Armstrong is famous for his stunning jazz performance, unique vocals, and amazing styles with the trumpet/cornet. It is said that during a session, Armstrong dropped his sheet music and started mimicking the sounds of the horn with his voice. 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. Study now. Featuring young geniuses such as Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker and Miles Davis, the younger generation of musicians saw themselves as artists, not as entertainers. The lights dim, and the velvet curtains slide open. For the first time, Armstrong was really able to demonstrate his unique voice during those recording sessions. 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. His influence, both as an artist and cultural icon, is universal and is still relevant today. He was a groundbreaking musician and a pioneer in the development of jazz music. For live dates, he appeared with the orchestras led by Erskine Tate and Carroll Dickerson. 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.. While performing with Tate in 1926, Armstrong finally switched from the cornet to the trumpet. His mother, who often turned to prostitution, frequently left him with his maternal grandmother. The new style that he created gave a voice-like quality to his horn. He weathered the bebop period of the '40s, growing ever more beloved worldwide. Many great performers have come out of the jazz industry, but the most widely known is Louis Satchmo Armstrong. 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. At the mention jazz music, that person will first think of is likely to be a great figure with a clown image, nicknamed Satchmo. But you get sick just like the next cat and when you die you're just as graveyard dead as he is. 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. He was known for both his joyous ways with the trumpet and his peculiarly touching and funny vocal style. All Rights Reserved. Armstrong was still a popular attraction around the world in 1963, but hadn't made a record in two years. Louis was arrested by Police When he was eleven. This essay will have an introduction of the king of jazz music -- Louis Armstrong and his great influence on jazz history. Louis Armstrong was an outstanding jazz musician during the Harlem Renaissance Era.

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