His rise to fame peaked in the 1920s, where he stunned the world with his bold trumpet style and idiosyncratic vocals. After they married in 1924, Hardin made it clear that she felt Oliver was holding Armstrong back. 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. He was released on June 16, 1914, and did manual labor while trying to establish himself as a musician. Louis Armstrong Biography, Songs, & Albums | AllMusic 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. How Did Louis Armstrong Impact Society 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 1938, Armstrong finally divorced Lil Hardin and married Alpha Smith, whom he had been dating for more than a decade. Louis Armstrong is one of the most influential jazz musicians of all time. 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. Coupled with his astonishing performing skills and charismatic stage presence, Armstrong took the world by storm and popularized jazz as we know it today. 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. Louis Armstrong (1901-1971) - BlackPast.org Armstrong was arrested at eleven years old for disturbing the peace. Why was Louis Armstrong important to the Harlem Renaissance? That same year, Armstrong married for the fourth and final time; he wed Lucille Wilson, a Cotton Club dancer. 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 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. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. 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. 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. Sources: All music is folk music. Why Is Louis Armstrong Important. I think to myself, what a wonderful world. 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). 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. What a Wonderful World struck a chord with moviegoers and was re-released that year, becoming an oft-requested radio hit. 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'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. Louis Armstrong, nicknamed "Satchmo," "Pops" and, later, "Ambassador Satch," was a native of New Orleans, Louisiana. He influenced other jazz musicians by his fearless trumpet styles and distinctive vocals. Why does Louis Armstrong sound like that 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. Louis Armstrong was the greatest of all Jazz musicians. Louis Armstrong was an American jazz musician who was one of the most influential figures in jazz music. Armstrongs improvised solos transformed jazz from an ensemble-based music into a soloists art, while his expressive vocals incorporated innovative bursts of scat singing and an underlying swing feel. For the first time, Armstrong was really able to demonstrate his unique voice during those recording sessions. His greatest inspiration was Joe King Oliver. 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. 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. He made his first recordings with Oliver on April 5, 1923; that day, he earned his first recorded solo on "Chimes Blues.". Louis Armstrong. Louis Armstrong Musician Facts | Mental Floss The Hot Fives' recording of "Muskrat Ramble" gave Armstrong a Top Ten hit in July 1926, the band for the track featuring Kid Ory on trombone, Johnny Dodds on clarinet, Lillian Harden Armstrong on piano, and Johnny St. Cyr on banjo. he put his soul and dedicated his life to his music. 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. Some even theorize that it was Armstrongs difficult upbringing that made his music so wise, so unique, and so revolutionary. 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. Here are 10 facts about the life of one of the 20th century's most important jazz musicians. He sang much as he played, but with a playfulness and a rasp, that would forever be part of American culture (Winfield 167). Related. According to Armstrong, that nights biggest laugh came right before his group started playing You Rascal, You. Without warning, he looked straight up at the monarch and hollered, This ones for you, Rex!, Fresh off the wild success of his Hello, Dolly! cover, Armstrong made a trip to communist East Berlin in 1965, where he gave a two-hour concert that earned a standing ovation. (Armstrong did not function as a bandleader in the usual sense, but instead typically lent his name to established groups.) The Armstrongs moved into the home, where they would live for the rest of their lives, in 1943. Why is Louis Armstrong important to blacks? 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. Louis Armstrong was born in New Orleans in 1901. While performing with Tate in 1926, Armstrong finally switched from the cornet to the trumpet. Armstrong was the primary ever "Genius" of jazz music. Armstrongs unique singing and masterful improvisation transitioned jazz from the traditional style to a newer, more rhythmic style. He wrote songs such as The Pearls, Millenburg Joys, Mr. Why Louis Armstrong was important? He was an extraordinary musician and he impacted jazz music immensely. Copy. Why is Louis Armstrong The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica, Dig Deeper: More Articles That Discuss This Topic, American actress, singer, director, producer. Personnel changed over the years but this remained Armstrongs main performing vehicle for the rest of his career. Armstrong began to sing on the records, creating a new form of singing, scat singing. 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. The new style that he created gave a voice-like quality to his horn. Why was Louis Armstrong so important? The first important trend in New York Jazz was Hot Jazz that was an incendiary style introduced by Louis Armstrong (Winfield 170). 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. He embarked on his first European tour since 1935 in February 1948, and thereafter toured regularly around the world. What was Louis Armstrongs childhood like? 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. ", During the mid-'50s, Armstrong's popularity overseas skyrocketed. After a quick trip with a group of people to Venice, Mozart and his daddy returned back to his hometown Salzburg. By February 1927, Armstrong was well-enough known to front his own group, Louis Armstrong & His Stompers, at the Sunset Caf in Chicago. Aint that stupid? William Armstrong, his father, was a factory worker who abandoned the family soon after the boy's birth. Since New Orleans style jazz known to man, it was one of the broadest genres of jazz. He subsequently passed, so the duo contacted Armstrong in August 1967. WebLouis Armstrong was the protean genius that made African American classical music mislabeled as jazz the most important music event of the 20th century. WebAnswer (1 of 2): Armstrongs first brass instrument and initial training was on the cornet, which is generally easier for younger or beginning players to learn and slightly smaller in size. The way they are treating my people in the South, declared Armstrong, the government can go to hell.. 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). Here is one paragraph from the post: From the very first note of West End Blues, a tune composed by Joe King Oliver, one can immediately sense the shift that In 1922, his mentor, King Oliver, invited him to work his Creole Jazz Band in Chicago. 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. 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. Why Is Charlie Parker Important His career rose in New Orleans. There, he received musical instruction on the cornet and fell in love with music. Despite failing to make a new record for two years, Armstrong remained a fan favorite. By the '50s, Armstrong was widely recognized, even traveling the globe for the US. In 1988, music historian Thaddeus Tad Jones located a baptismal record at New Orleanss Sacred Heart of Jesus Church. I play the good kind (Armstrong). Armstrong defined what it was to play Jazz. Evidently, the show went well. Louis Armstrong was to jazz music what Bach is to classical music, Presley is to rock music (Berrett 230). If you have to ask what jazz is, you'll never know. This essay will have an introduction of the king of jazz music -- Louis Armstrong and his great influence on jazz history. (Biography.com), Many people knew Louis Armstrong as the first real genius of jazz(Shipton 26). In 1922, King Oliver sent for Armstrong to join his band in Chicago. Armstrong fought back, but for many young jazz fans, he was regarded as an out-of-date performer with his best days behind him. 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. Legendary CBS newsman Edward R. Murrow followed Armstrong with a camera crew on some of his worldwide excursions, turning the resulting footage into a theatrical documentary, Satchmo the Great, released in 1957. Since his death, Armstrong's stature has only continued to grow. Music historians recognize this as the first popular, mass-market scat ever recorded. Contracted to OKeh Records, he began to make a series of recordings with studio-only groups called the Hot Fives or the Hot Sevens. Blessed with, Armstrong was born in New Orleans on August 4, 1901. 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. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. Site contains certain content that is owned A&E Television Networks, LLC. This is where Armstrong first fell in love with music; he would listen to people playing any chance that he would get(Tirro). Armstrong made his first trip abroad, to Europe, and received the nickname Satchmo from his original nickname Satchelmouth, because of his big lips. 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. 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. 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. According to this document, the performers actual birth date was August 4, 1901. 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 was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on August 4, 1901. 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. Eldridge is the obvious link between Louis Armstrong and Dizzy Gillespie. Mob bosses from New York City and Chicago threatened Louis Armstrong in attempts to control his management contract. His career spanned many decades, from the 1920s to his death in 1971, and many different eras in jazz. 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.. 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. Eventually tour ended and Louis went back home to continue his. Armstrong and Oliver became the talk of the town with their intricate two-cornet breaks and started making records together in 1923. 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. You feel butterflies in your stomach as you take your seat. Glaser did just that; within a few months, Armstrong had a new big band and was recording for Decca Records. Armstrong's words made front-page news around the world. 34-56 107th Street, Queens, NY 11368 718-478-8274 2023 Louis Armstrong House Museum, 34-56 107th Street, Queens, NY 11368 718-478-8274, The Louis Armstrong House Museum is a constituent of the. 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. It is said that during a session, Armstrong dropped his sheet music and started mimicking the sounds of the horn with his voice. 149 Copy quote. A YouTube poster named pandasthumb describes the piece. Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington "Jazz While in New York, Armstrong cut dozens of records as a sideman, creating inspirational jazz with other greats such as Sidney Bechet, and backing numerous blues singers including Bessie Smith. 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. With his daring rhythmic choice, swinging vocabulary, and incredibly high notes; changing jazz history once again. By 1932, Armstrong, who was now known as Satchmo, had begun appearing in movies and made his first tour of England. That didnt stop him from living his life like a regular boy. 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 also played as a second trumpet for King Oliver. They also encouraged him to sing and often invited him into their home for meals. 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). In 1993, it gained renewed popularity when it was used in the film Sleepless in Seattle. WebLouis Armstrong was the most important and influential musician in jazz history. In 16967, Armstrong recorded his most renowned tune, What a Wonderful Word that surprisingly featured no trumpet. 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. 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 Armstrong brought. Armstrong continued a grueling touring schedule into the late '50s, and it caught up with him in 1959, when he had a heart attack while traveling in Spoleto, Italy. Flappers were commonly known during this time. 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. There were many jazz musicians. While growing up, Armstrong did assorted jobs for the Karnofskys, a family of Lithuanian-Jewish immigrants. How Did Louis Armstrong Contribute To The Harlem Renaissance He was an all-star virtuoso, and came to prominence in the 1920s playing cornet and trumpet with an excitingly new and improvisational style. He performed less frequently in the late '60s and early '70s, and died of a heart ailment in 1971 at the age of 69. In 1914, the home released him, and he immediately began dreaming of a life making music. Armstrong continued to appear in major films with the likes of Mae West, Martha Raye and Dick Powell. WebToday, Louis Armstrong holds the title as the worlds greatest jazz player. 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 WebHe overcame poverty to become one of the most important people in the history of music. Armstrong practiced his instrument and eventually he became the jazz great everyone knows today. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. "Hotter Than That" was in the Top Ten in May 1928, followed in September by "West End Blues," which later became one of the first recordings named to the Grammy Hall of Fame. Then, at the age of five, he was returned to the care of his mother, who at the time worked as a laundress. Pops had a special place in his heart for both Chinese and Italian food. Additionally, he became the first African American entertainer to host a nationally sponsored radio show in 1937, when he took over Rudy Vallee's Fleischmann's Yeast Show for 12 weeks. Dancers loved Hendersons music making Louis Armstrong a celebrity so when he left his old band, this would be a step up. For this, he is revered by jazz fans. 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. Why Louis Armstrong was important? Stwnews.org The civil rights movement was growing stronger with each passing year, with more protests, marches and speeches from African Americans wanting equal rights. Armstrong was brought up by his mother, Mary (Albert) Armstrong, and his maternal grandmother. His mother, Mayann, was 15 years old when he was born and his father, Willie, abandoned them soon after. (Hakim, 58) Although Jazz was very popular itself, a majority of the fans and listeners were younger people. 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. 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. Louis Armstrong was the greatest of all Jazz musicians. Armstrong's daring vocal transformations of these songs completely changed the concept of popular singing in American popular music, and had lasting effects on all singers who came after him, including Bing Crosby, Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald. 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. 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. "What a Wonderful World" peaked on the U.S. music charts after Armstrong passed away. After being released at age fourteen, he worked selling papers, unloading boats, and selling coal from a cart. He spread jazz throughout the world. He is remembered as the most influential artist in the early development of jazz. WebWhy Is Louis Armstrong Important. 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). 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). Being in many bands before he was not new to this. Armstrong decided to take some time off soon after the incident, and spent much of 1934 relaxing in Europe and resting his lip. He was employed by a Jewish family who encouraged him to sing. He studied music there and played cornet and bugle in the school band, eventually becoming its leader. Without the jazz musicians, jazz music would not have been possible. 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. However, conditions changed when he was requested to record the title number of a broadway show that went on to become a hit. Career highlights, compiled by the Louis Armstrong House Museum: BenFred: Cardinals are cranking volume up on star prospect Jordan 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. Why However, controversy regarding Armstrong's fatherhood struck in 1954, when a girlfriend that the musician had dated on the side, Lucille "Sweets" Preston, claimed she was pregnant with his child. That's the secret. Louis Armstrong recorded many popular songs like La Vie en Rose, and his theme song When its Sleepy Time Down South. Biography and associated logos are trademarks of A+E Networksprotected in the US and other countries around the globe. 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. He faced tremendous adversity, ignorance and hatred in his life, and fought back without sinking to the level of those who opposed him. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. Each of the books on jazz music will mention his name. Nobody did what Louis could do. Mozart, in his own traditional ways, the right away he did the first three of his 22 performances at that opera. Armstrong put his career in Glaser's hands and asked him to make his troubles disappear. 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). West End Blues by Louis Armstrong is one of the most important songs in jazz. Louis Armstrong is considered a hero for many reasons. Why is Louis Armstrong important 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. WebLouis Armstrongas a musician, as a man, as an icon. In America, Armstrong had been a great Civil Rights pioneer, breaking down numerous barriers as a young man. Why Is Louis Armstrong Important. Armstrong defined what it was to play Jazz.