Instead he used his talent as a ticket to improve his lot and create a meaningful life. Copy. 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.". 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. 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). However, had his upbringing been different, his musical talents may never have been established to grow and thrive into one of the most internationally influential jazz musicians ever. He was abandoned by his father, a boiler stoker, shortly after his birth and was raised by his paternal grandmother. 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 West End Blues by Louis Armstrong is one of the most important songs in jazz. Every time I close my eyes blowing that trumpet of mine, I look right into the heart of good old New Orleans. That didnt stop him from living his life like a regular boy. Within a span of three years, Armstrong recorded over sixty records. Some even theorize that it was Armstrongs difficult upbringing that made his music so wise, so unique, and so revolutionary. Like almost all early Jazz musicians, Louis was from New Orleans. Louis Armstrong was the greatest of all Jazz musicians. Encyclopdia Britannica, and create and manage the relationships between them. 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. 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. Louis Armstrong was important in the 1920's because he put a whole new meaning to jazz. Louis began playing at a young age when he was growing up in New Orleans. Jazz Giant Louis Armstrong Was Born - America's Library 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. While performing with Tate in 1926, Armstrong finally switched from the cornet to the trumpet. Born in 1901 in New Orleans, Louisiana, Armstrong had a difficult childhood. After trying it, he said that defecation sounded like Applause. Enamored, the musician began handing out packets to admirers, loved ones, and band members. "What a Wonderful World" peaked on the U.S. music charts after Armstrong passed away. He weathered the bebop period of the '40s, growing ever more beloved worldwide. Louis Armstrong is considered a hero for many reasons. The record was released in 1964 and quickly climbed to the top of the pop music charts, hitting the No. Louis Armstrong (1901-1971) - BlackPast.org This pop success was repeated internationally four years later with "What a Wonderful World," which hit number one in the U.K. in April 1968. When Armstrong returned to Chicago in 1935, he had no band, no engagements and no recording contract. It was also for Columbia that Armstrong scored one of the biggest hits of his career: His jazz transformation of Kurt Weill's "Mack the Knife. The single's B-side, and also a chart entry, was "A Kiss to Build a Dream On," sung by Armstrong in the film The Strip. He attended Colored Waifs Home in 1913 for eighteen months. Ironically, Armstrong later wrote the whole thing off as a big blunder on his part. He sang much as he played, but with a playfulness and a rasp, that would forever be part of American culture (Winfield 167). The song for which Pops is most widely remembered, What a Wonderful World, was almost never his song at all. 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. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. 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. Since New Orleans style jazz known to man, it was one of the broadest genres of jazz. Louis Armstrong This led some to alter his long-time nickname, Satchmo, to "Ambassador Satch.". You feel butterflies in your stomach as you take your seat. After being released at age fourteen, he worked selling papers, unloading boats, and selling coal from a cart. Featuring young geniuses such as Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker and Miles Davis, the younger generation of musicians saw themselves as artists, not as entertainers. Armstrong fought back, but for many young jazz fans, he was regarded as an out-of-date performer with his best days behind him. Why Is Louis Armstrong Important. Pillars of Life 3 y Related Why was jazz so important? (1964), the latter knocking the Beatles off the top of the pop charts at the height of Beatlemania. Nobody did what Louis could do. He was often left with his grandmother, and left school in fifth grade to start working. As an artist, Armstrong was embraced by two distinctly different audiences: jazz fans who revered him for his early innovations as an instrumentalist but were occasionally embarrassed by his lack of interest in later developments in jazz, especially his willingness to serve as a light entertainer; and pop fans, who delighted in his joyous performances, particularly as a vocalist, but were largely unaware of his significance as a jazz musician. Louis Armstrong was an outstanding jazz musician during the Harlem Renaissance Era. 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. 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. 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. Outraged, Armstrong refused to stage another concert within the state's borders. Louis did his first performance on stage in 1930 to spread his Jazz style. Why does Louis Armstrong sound like that 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). His music had had a major effect on "swing" and the big band sound. Why Louis Armstrong 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. He took a position as star soloist in Carroll Dickerson's band at the Savoy Ballroom in Chicago in March 1928, later taking over as the band's frontman. An early job working for the Jewish Karnofsky family allowed Armstrong to make enough money to purchase his first cornet. 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. In recent years, Armstrong's alleged daughter, who now goes by the name Sharon Preston Folta, has publicized various letters between her and her father. After completing the optimistic anthem, songwriters Bob Thiele and George David Weiss thought that Tony Bennett would eat it right up. Jews Who Adopted Louis Armstrong Armstrong spent his youth singing on the street for spare change, but he didnt receive any formal musical training until age 11. His mother, Mayann, was 15 years old when he was born and his father, Willie, abandoned them soon after. Eldridge is the obvious link between Louis Armstrong and Dizzy Gillespie. All Rights Reserved. In 1922, King Oliver sent for Armstrong to join his band in Chicago. 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. In 1924, Armstrong married Hardin, who urged Armstrong to leave Oliver and try to make it on his own. He worked for to get his instrument because his mother couldn't afford to buy him one. Why is Louis Armstrong important in the 20's? In 1967, Armstrong recorded a new ballad, "What a Wonderful World." Within a span of three years, Armstrong recorded over sixty records. He also began singing on these recordings, popularizing wordless "scat singing" with his hugely popular vocal on 1926's "Heebie Jeebies.". In 1938, Armstrong finally divorced Lil Hardin and married Alpha Smith, whom he had been dating for more than a decade. 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. 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. 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. He is remembered as the most influential artist in the early development of jazz. 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. Eldridge is the obvious link between Louis Armstrong and Dizzy Gillespie. By the summer of 1970, Armstrong was allowed to perform publicly again and play the trumpet. Louis Armstrong: A Cultural Legacy By 1968, Armstrong's grueling lifestyle had finally caught up with him. He was an all-star virtuoso, and came to prominence in the 1920s playing cornet and trumpet with an excitingly new and improvisational style. Louis Armstrong Louis Armstrong: Genius and Drugs Louis continued to spread his style by touring other countries. WebLouis Armstrong remains an icon of American history and 20 th century popular culture. Show More. The brilliance of his playing, the warmth of his vocals, and his integrity as a human being simply inspires me. 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. WebLouis Armstrong was the most important and influential musician in jazz history. The year 1956 saw Louisiana prohibit integrated bands. His influence, both as an artist and Although the ballad topped the 1968 charts in Great Britain, American sales were abysmal. 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.". He was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on August 4, 1901. 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. Sources: He made his first recordings with Oliver on April 5, 1923; that day, he earned his first recorded solo on "Chimes Blues.". He was an extraordinary musician and he impacted jazz music immensely. Louis Armstrong recorded many popular songs like La Vie en Rose, and his theme song When its Sleepy Time Down South. 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. Louis Armstrong was called "the single most important figure in the history of jazz" by Billboard magazine, a publication that tracks the recording industry. The movie he appeared in was Pennies from Heaven (1936). According to this document, the performers actual birth date was August 4, 1901. Louis Armstrong was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on August 4, 1901. What a Wonderful World struck a chord with moviegoers and was re-released that year, becoming an oft-requested radio hit. 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. Who Is Louis Armstrong And Why Is He Important To Jazz Music? Louis Armstrong 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. 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. At one point in Heebie Jeebiesa 1926 song released by Armstrong and his "Hot Five bandthe singer vocalizes a series of nonsensical, horn-like sounds. There were many jazz musicians. He made his film debut in Ex-Flame, released at the end of 1931. A YouTube poster named pandasthumb describes the piece. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. Site contains certain content that is owned A&E Television Networks, LLC. It is said that during a session, Armstrong dropped his sheet music and started mimicking the sounds of the horn with his voice. 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. We strive for accuracy and fairness.If you see something that doesn't look right,contact us! 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. In July, Armstrong sailed to England for a tour. 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. This is where Armstrong first fell in love with music; he would listen to people playing any chance that he would get(Tirro). Louis was born in New Orleans where he grew up and learned to play the trumpet. Mob bosses from New York City and Chicago threatened Louis Armstrong in attempts to control his management contract. Louis was able to get hired as a junk collecter and coal deliverer. Louis Armstrong Musician Facts | Mental Floss Why was Louis Armstrong so important? The most important and influential musician in jazz history, and one of the leading singers and entertainers from the 1920s through the '50s. Jelly Roll, Doctor Jazz, Original Jelly Roll Blues, and many other famous pieces. Between 1952 and 1955, Armstrong shed 100 pounds. 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. WebLouis Armstrong is arguably the most important musician that the United States has ever produced (Shipton 160). Louis Armstrong used to give away laxatives as gifts. (She was the second of his four wives.) 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. After they married in 1924, Hardin made it clear that she felt Oliver was holding Armstrong back. Despite failing to make a new record for two years, Armstrong remained a fan favorite. WebImportance of Louis Armstrong. Since his death, Armstrong's stature has only continued to grow. Love, baby - love. Despite failing to make a new record for two years, Armstrong remained a fan favorite. Armstrong's words made front-page news around the world. 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. (Jazz From New Orleans, Jazz music was one of the most popular music genres in the 1920s and 1930s. ", During the mid-'50s, Armstrong's popularity overseas skyrocketed. Louis Armstrong is one of the most influential jazz musicians of all time. Louis Armstrong was the greatest of all Jazz musicians. During this time, Armstrong adopted a three-year-old boy named Clarence. They treat me better all over the world than they do in my hometown, he said. 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 Armstrong For the first time, Armstrong was really able to demonstrate his unique voice during those recording sessions. Revisiting Louis Armstrong in the Context 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. Heart and kidney problems forced him to stop performing in 1969. He returned to Broadway in the short-lived musical Swingin' the Dream in November 1939. Louis Armstrong As A Wonderful World Wiki User. 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. .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.