He was a master of the trumpet and cornet, and his style of playing was unique and instantly recognizable. Then along came a bare-knuckled comedy called Good Morning, Vietnam (1987). 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. 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. By that point, Armstrong began dating the pianist in the band, Lillian Hardin. Louis Armstrong used to give away laxatives as gifts. 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. The story behind the jazz legends final hit and, quite simply, one of the most beautiful songs ever written. See answer (1) Best Answer. Eldridge is the obvious link between Louis Armstrong and Dizzy Gillespie. He was a master of the trumpet and a pioneer of jazz. Why is Louis Armstrong Louis Armstrong Wiki User. Though Armstrong was content to remain in New Orleans, in the summer of 1922, he received a call from Oliver to come to Chicago and join his Creole Jazz Band on second cornet. In 16967, Armstrong recorded his most renowned tune, What a Wonderful Word that surprisingly featured no trumpet. He was also a talented singer, and his recordings of songs like What a 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. Louis Armstrong: History & Major Accomplishments Louis Armstrong Musician Facts | Mental Floss Its popularity brought many people together, even through the years of racial discrimination and the Great Depression. Louis's Father left him around childbirth, and his mother often used prostitution for money. Louis Armstrong is one of the most important jazz figures. Who Is Louis Armstrong And Why Is He Important To Jazz Music? 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. Armstrong was still a popular attraction around the world in 1963, but hadn't made a record in two years. One day, they even advanced him the $5 he used to buy his very first horn. 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. The bottom line of any country in the world is what did we contribute to the world? Armstrong was arrested at eleven years old for disturbing the peace. WebThe point is that Armstrong created and codified an entire vocabulary of jazz, setting the standard for vocalists and instrumentalists. West End Blues by Louis Armstrong is one of the most important songs in jazz. Show More. Pillars of Life 3 y Related Why was jazz so important? Louis Armstrong: Genius and Drugs In 1936, Louis Armstrong became the first African American jazz musician to write an autobiography, Swing That Music. Louis Armstrong (1901-1971) - BlackPast.org Armstrong continued touring the world and making records with songs like Blueberry Hill (1949), Mack the Knife (1955) and Hello, Dolly! 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 Fletcher Henderson also influenced jazz music. 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. 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. Within a span of three years, Armstrong recorded over sixty records. 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 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. Aint that stupid? Louis Armstrong: A Cultural Legacy | National Portrait Gallery 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. The memory of things gone is important to a jazz musician. He has many nicknames in which some are Satchmo and Pops. 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. Study now. He studied music there and played cornet and bugle in the school band, eventually becoming its leader. According to this document, the performers actual birth date was August 4, 1901. 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. Career highlights, compiled by the Louis Armstrong House Museum: What A Wonderful World: Louis Armstrongs Iconic Ballad Armstrong used to say that hed been born on July 4, 1900. Armstrong was the primary ever "Genius" of jazz music. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. 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. 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. By the summer of 1970, Armstrong was allowed to perform publicly again and play the trumpet. 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.. By the mid-'40s, the Swing Era was winding down and the era of big bands was almost over. The most important and influential musician in jazz history, and one of the leading singers and entertainers from the 1920s through the '50s. Mob bosses from New York City and Chicago threatened Louis Armstrong in attempts to control his management contract. 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. 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. 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. 232) Armstrong unlike other black jazz men and women, was one of the first to be welcomed in the upper echelons of white society. 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. Louis Armstrong He began touring the country in the 1940s. Louis continued to spread his style by touring other countries. Why Is Charlie Parker Important While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Perhaps most importantly, the letters also detail Armstrong's fatherly love for Sharon. Sure enough, he explained, they [published] Heebie Jeebies the same way it was mistakenly recorded. However, most biographers believe that Armstrong made up this anecdote and had planned on scatting all along. 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. Instead he used his talent as a ticket to improve his lot and create a meaningful life. 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. However, conditions changed when he was requested to record the title number of a broadway show that went on to become a hit. Pops had a special place in his heart for both Chinese and Italian food. It started in New Orleans and over the years, stretched out throughout the whole United States. That same year, he recorded with small New Orleans-influenced groups, including the Hot Five, and began recording larger ensembles. After being released at age fourteen, he worked selling papers, unloading boats, and selling coal from a cart. The Information Architects maintain a master list of the topics included in the corpus of WebCourtesy of the Louis Armstrong Archive Queens College, CUNY. WebThrough the internet and books we find out why Louis Armstrong is such a great person to learn about. When Wilson tired of living out of a suitcase during endless strings of one-nighters, she convinced Armstrong to purchase a house at 34-56 107th Street in Corona, Queens, New York. He also learned to sing. With his infectious smile and raspy voice, Louis Armstrong (who actually pronounced his own name "Lewis") won over fans worldwide. They also encouraged him to sing and often invited him into their home for meals. I think to myself, what a wonderful world. Armstrong's four marriages never produced any children, and because he and wife Lucille Wilson had actively tried for years to no avail, many believed him to be sterile, incapable of having children. 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. In 1993, it gained renewed popularity when it was used in the film Sleepless in Seattle. 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.". 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. From 1925 to 1928, Armstrong made more than 60 records with the Hot Five and, later, the Hot Seven. An early job working for the Jewish Karnofsky family allowed Armstrong to make enough money to purchase his first cornet. When Pops (who adored Thiele and Weiss masterwork) passed away on July 6, 1971, What a Wonderful World seemed destined for stateside obscurity. While performing with Tate in 1926, Armstrong finally switched from the cornet to the trumpet. 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. 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. Armstrong returned to New York with his band for an engagement at Connie's Inn in Harlem in May 1929. By the end of his teens, Armstrong had grown up fast. Study now. I play the good kind (Armstrong). Born in 1901 in New Orleans, Louisiana, Armstrong had a difficult childhood. 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. Jews Who Adopted Louis Armstrong He subsequently passed, so the duo contacted Armstrong in August 1967. Is Louis (Biography.com), Many people knew Louis Armstrong as the first real genius of jazz(Shipton 26). He was one of the most influential figures in jazz music. Famous for his innovative methods of playing the trumpet and cornet, he was also a highly talented singer, blessed with a powerful gravelly voice. Known for his improvisation, Armstrong could induce dramatic effects with his music. There are two kinds of music, the good and the bad. 1. (1964), the latter knocking the Beatles off the top of the pop charts at the height of Beatlemania. After a quick trip with a group of people to Venice, Mozart and his daddy returned back to his hometown Salzburg. In 1967, Armstrong recorded a new ballad, "What a Wonderful World." 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. When Armstrong saw this as well as white protesters hurling invective at the students he blew his top to the press, telling a reporter that President Dwight D. Eisenhower had "no guts" for letting Faubus run the country, and stating, "The way they are treating my people in the South, the government can go to hell.". Armstrong sang his heart out on the number, thinking of his home in Queens as he did so, but "What a Wonderful World" received little promotion in the United States. Eldridge is the obvious link between Louis Armstrong and Dizzy Gillespie. 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.". However, Armstrong's southern background didn't mesh well with the more urban, Northern mentality of Henderson's other musicians, who sometimes gave Armstrong a hard time over his wardrobe and the way he talked. Aristotle did not consider children as morally responsible as adults because they have not had sufficient time to move beyond their backgrounds and upbringing. Dancers loved Hendersons music making Louis Armstrong a celebrity so when he left his old band, this would be a step up. His music was a happiness to individuals and they said he was a gift sent from heaven. Louis Armstrong was an outstanding jazz musician during the Harlem Renaissance Era. By 1968, Armstrong's grueling lifestyle had finally caught up with him. ", 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.". Also in 1936, Louis Armstrong became the first African American to get featured billing in a major Hollywood movie with his turn in. 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. In 1972, a year after his death, he received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. In 1937, Louis Armstrong became the first African American entertainer to host a nationally sponsored radio show. Louis Armstrong (Armstrong did not function as a bandleader in the usual sense, but instead typically lent his name to established groups.) Armstrong brought. In addition Armstrong was also an influential singer, demonstrating great dexterity as an improviser, bending the lyrics and melody of a song for expressive purposes., On the 26th day of December in 1788 there was a very great success. Within a span of three years, Armstrong recorded over sixty records. After his time in Colored Waifs Home, he wanted to become a musician. He weathered the bebop period of the '40s, growing ever more beloved worldwide. Is Louis 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. Only Charlie Parker comes close to having as much influence on the history of Jazz as Louis Armstrong did. He turned to Joe Glaser for help; Glaser had mob ties of his own, having been close with Al Capone, but he had loved Armstrong from the time he met him at the Sunset Caf (Glaser had owned and managed the club). He was soon able to stop working manual labor jobs and began concentrating full-time on his cornet, playing parties, dances, funeral marches and at local "honky-tonks"a name for small bars that typically host musical acts. 2012-02-22 18:06:07. Why 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. 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. The family treated Armstrong like a member, bought him his first trumpet, and encouraged his musical aspirations. But many of his recorded performances are masterpieces, and none are less than entertaining. In 1938, Armstrong finally divorced Lil Hardin and married Alpha Smith, whom he had been dating for more than a decade. 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 also began appearing in the orchestra of Hot Chocolates, a Broadway revue, and was given a featured spot singing "Ain't Misbehavin'." Why Louis Armstrong Louis Armstrong Music historians recognize this as the first popular, mass-market scat ever recorded. Wiki User. BenFred: Cardinals are cranking volume up on star prospect Jordan Louis Armstrong was the most important and influential musician in jazz history. Armstrong's charismatic stage presence impressed not only the jazz world but all of popular music. His crucial contribution to American and world culture continues to reverberate into the 21 st century. 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! Armstrong and Oliver became the talk of the town with their intricate two-cornet breaks and started making records together in 1923. Being in many bands before he was not new to this. Armstrong put his career in Glaser's hands and asked him to make his troubles disappear. Despite failing to make a new record for two years, Armstrong remained a fan favorite. On New Years Eve 1912, he was arrested and sent to the Colored Waifs Home for Boys. 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. He returned to Chicago in the spring of 1932 to front a band led by Zilner Randolph; the group toured around the country. 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. Armstrong made his first trip abroad, to Europe, and received the nickname Satchmo from his original nickname Satchelmouth, because of his big lips. Why does Louis Armstrong sound like that The musician didn't let the incident stop him, however, and after taking a few weeks off to recover, he was back on the road, performing 300 nights a year into the 1960s. 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. He grew up in New Orleans where he introduced to jazz and he went on to spread jazz throughout different cities such as Chicago and New York. However, a heart attack two days after the Waldorf gig sidelined him for two months. Jazz Giant Louis Armstrong Was Born - America's Library He took up work in Joe (King) Olivers house, doing chores in exchange for musical lessons, developing into a. Louis Armstrong is a man of many talents and skills known for creating a new environment, especially in his home town of New Orleans. Armstrong soon began dating the female pianist in the band, Lillian Hardin. Louis Armstrong Armstrong spent his youth singing on the street for spare change, but he didnt receive any formal musical training until age 11. 149 Copy quote. What made jazz continuously popular was the way it progressed. 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. Why was Louis Armstrong important to the Harlem Renaissance? At the start of Armstrongs career, he married Daisy Parker. The pistol should have been stored in a locked, Armstrong did not define himself by his background and could have grown up to be just another poor child from a broken home. We contributed Louis Armstrong. WebWhy Is Louis Armstrong Important. 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.