why is louis armstrong important why is louis armstrong important

How did Louis Armstrong influence others? He was often left with his grandmother, and left school in fifth grade to start working. 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. (Hakim, 58) Although Jazz was very popular itself, a majority of the fans and listeners were younger people. He returned to performing in 1970 but it was too much, too soon and he passed away in his sleep on July 6, 1971, a few months after his final engagement at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City. In America, Armstrong had been a great Civil Rights pioneer, breaking down numerous barriers as a young man. 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. You might be able to buy a little better booze than the wino on the corner. 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). Glaser did just that; within a few months, Armstrong had a new big band and was recording for Decca Records. 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. He wrote songs such as The Pearls, Millenburg Joys, Mr. The Armstrongs moved into the home, where they would live for the rest of their lives, in 1943. he is important because he was the first black singer. The jazz magazine Down Beat agreed. His greatest inspiration was Joe King Oliver. With his amazing voice trumpet he created a band and made some records. I play the good kind (Armstrong). Coupled with his astonishing performing skills and charismatic stage presence, Armstrong took the world by storm and popularized jazz as we know it today. He attended school until he was in the 5th grade, he stopped going to help support his family. Midway through the recording session, he accidentally dropped them and scatted to fill the ensuing silence. When Louis Armstrong was placed in a boys home as a young boy, he was presented with the opportunity to play the cornet. In 1914, the home released him, and he immediately began dreaming of a life making music. In 1918, he married Daisy Parker, a prostitute, commencing a stormy union marked by many arguments and acts of violence. Louis Armstrong is one of the most important jazz figures. Its popularity brought many people together, even through the years of racial discrimination and the Great Depression. This was the first time anyone had ever recorded this technique known as scat singing. Armstrong and Oliver became the talk of the town with their intricate two-cornet breaks and started making records together in 1923. 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. What was Louis Armstrongs childhood like? He made his film debut in Ex-Flame, released at the end of 1931. 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. Eventually tour ended and Louis went back home to continue his. She pushed her husband to cut ties with his mentor and join Fletcher Henderson's Orchestra, the top African American dance band in New York City at the time. During his span, he composed thousands of songs for everyone to hear. 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. The family treated Armstrong like a member, bought him his first trumpet, and encouraged his musical aspirations. 1 slot in May 1964, and knocking the Beatles off the top at the height of Beatlemania. During his time there, he learned how to play the bugle cornet, an instrument that is similar to the trumpet. 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. Unhappy, Armstrong left Henderson in 1925 to return to Chicago, where he began playing with his wife's band at the Dreamland Caf. 149 Copy quote. After completing the optimistic anthem, songwriters Bob Thiele and George David Weiss thought that Tony Bennett would eat it right up. To grasp how much the man adored this entre, consider that he often signed his personal letters with Red Beans and Ricely Yours.. 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.. He has many nicknames in which some are Satchmo and Pops. For this, he is revered by jazz fans. "What a Wonderful World" peaked on the U.S. music charts after Armstrong passed away. 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. 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. 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. As if it were not enough that Armstrong would rewire instrumental music for the rest of the century, his singing did the same for vocal music. Despite failing to make a new record for two years, Armstrong remained a fan favorite. Armstrong spent his youth singing on the street for spare change, but he didnt receive any formal musical training until age 11. Between 1952 and 1955, Armstrong shed 100 pounds. By the end of his teens, Armstrong had grown up fast. Louis Daniel (Louie) Armstrong is perhaps the most important and influential person in the history of jazz music, swing music, and jazz vocal styling. ", Armstrong signed with Columbia Records in the mid-'50s, and soon cut some of the finest albums of his career for producer George Avakian, including Louis Armstrong Plays W.C. Love, baby - love. The memory of things gone is important to a jazz musician. Armstrong was an African American child growing up in the slums of New Orleans, close to abandonment, impoverished, and with too few constant people, resources, or homes. The story behind the jazz legends final hit and, quite simply, one of the most beautiful songs ever written. Armstrong used to say that hed been born on July 4, 1900. (Armstrong did not function as a bandleader in the usual sense, but instead typically lent his name to established groups.) If you have to ask what jazz is, you'll never know. He also began singing on these recordings, popularizing wordless "scat singing" with his hugely popular vocal on 1926's "Heebie Jeebies.". Why Is Louis Armstrong Important. His mother, who often turned to prostitution, frequently left him with his maternal grandmother. Mob bosses from New York City and Chicago threatened Louis Armstrong in attempts to control his management contract. 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. 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. A year in New York with Fletcher Henderson and His Orchestra proved unsatisfying so Armstrong returned to Chicago in 1925 and began making records under his own name for the first time. ", 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.". Sources: Armstrong was the primary ever "Genius" of jazz music. Louis did his first performance on stage in 1930 to spread his Jazz style. 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. He also took a series of small parts in motion pictures, beginning with Pennies from Heaven in December 1936, and he continued to record for Decca, resulting in the Top Ten hits "Public Melody Number One" (August 1937), "When the Saints Go Marching In" (April 1939), and "You Won't Be Satisfied (Until You Break My Heart)" (April 1946), the last a duet with Ella Fitzgerald. Losing weight proved difficult at first, but his luck changed once he learned of an herbal laxative called Swiss Kriss. The artist promptly went out, bought a box, and became a lifelong spokesman. All music is folk music. The movie he appeared in was Pennies from Heaven (1936). His distinctive sound and style have had a lasting impact on the genre, and he was a major influence on subsequent generations of jazz musicians. He also played as a second trumpet for King Oliver. He spread jazz throughout the world. 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. That same year, he recorded with small New Orleans-influenced groups, including the Hot Five, and began recording larger ensembles. He returned to Chicago in the spring of 1932 to front a band led by Zilner Randolph; the group toured around the country. Some even theorize that it was Armstrongs difficult upbringing that made his music so wise, so unique, and so revolutionary. he put his soul and dedicated his life to his music. Read Full Biography. 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. (Biography.com), Many people knew Louis Armstrong as the first real genius of jazz(Shipton 26). 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. 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. Dancers loved Hendersons music making Louis Armstrong a celebrity so when he left his old band, this would be a step up. 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. 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. Armstrong put his career in Glaser's hands and asked him to make his troubles disappear. 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. Back in America in 1935, Armstrong hired Joe Glaser as his manager and began fronting a big band, recording pop songs for Decca, and appearing regularly in movies. Louis Armstrong was born in New Orleans in 1901. Why was Louis Armstrong so important? (Cayton, 462) Armstrong was the king of jazz trumpet players. He was also a gifted singer, and his Louis Armstrong was important in the 1920's because he put a whole new meaning to jazz. By February 1927, Armstrong was well-enough known to front his own group, Louis Armstrong & His Stompers, at the Sunset Caf in Chicago. Louis Armstrong is one of the first great soloists in the 1920s musicians. 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. 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.". He didn't own an instrument at this time, If one was to go out into the street, walked up to a random stranger and asked them if they knew who Louis Armstrong was, chances are that they would be able to answer you correctly. 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. Why Louis Armstrong was important? There, under the tutelage of Peter Davis, he learned how to properly play the cornet, eventually becoming the leader of the Waifs Home Brass Band. Louis Armstrong, also known as the king of jazz was born on Augest 4th, 1901, in New Orleans Louisiana; he died July 6, 1971 in Corona Queens New York. His music was a happiness to individuals and they said he was a gift sent from heaven. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Released from the Waifs Home in 1914, Armstrong set his sights on becoming a professional musician. WebThe point is that Armstrong created and codified an entire vocabulary of jazz, setting the standard for vocalists and instrumentalists. 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.". In fifth grade, while being taken care of by his maternal grandmother most of the time, he left school to work. Why is Louis Armstrong important to blacks? Study now. 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. Jazz is a genre of music that brought a whole community of people together. During this time, Armstrong adopted a three-year-old boy named Clarence. WebWhy Is Louis Armstrong Important. He was also a talented singer, and his recordings of songs like What a A local Jewish family, the Karnofskys, gave young Armstrong a job collecting junk and delivering coal. It started in New Orleans and over the years, stretched out throughout the whole United States. A year later, he was honored with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. He studied music there and played cornet and bugle in the school band, eventually becoming its leader. Armstrongs unique singing and masterful improvisation transitioned jazz from the traditional style to a newer, more rhythmic style. WebLouis Armstrong was the most important and influential musician in jazz history. During this time, Armstrong taught the band how to swing. His amazing technical abilities, the joy and spontaneity, and amazingly quick, inventive musical mind still dominate Jazz to this day. The boy's mother, Armstrong's cousin, had died in childbirth. 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. 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.. Louis Armstrong was born in New Orleans in 1901. 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. He is remembered as the most influential artist in the early development of jazz. Born in 1901 in New Orleans, Louisiana, Armstrong had a difficult childhood. A young pianist from Pittsburgh, Earl Hines, assimilated Armstrong's ideas into his piano playing. Armstrong fought back, but for many young jazz fans, he was regarded as an out-of-date performer with his best days behind him. 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. By 1932, Armstrong, who was now known as Satchmo, had begun appearing in movies and made his first tour of England. He moved to the Fate Marable band in the spring of 1919, staying with Marable until the fall of 1921. .State Department and earning the nickname "Ambassador Satch." Pillars of Life 3 y Related Why was jazz so important? Armstrong began to sing on the records, creating a new form of singing, scat singing. A 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. Then, at the age of five, he was returned to the care of his mother, who at the time worked as a laundress. 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. 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. 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. The new style that he created gave a voice-like quality to his horn. 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 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. He was a master of the trumpet and cornet, and his style of playing was unique and instantly recognizable. Why was Louis Armstrong important to New Orleans? While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. 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.