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. They treat me better all over the world than they do in my hometown, he said. WebWhy Is Louis Armstrong Important. 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. He sang much as he played, but with a playfulness and a rasp, that would forever be part of American culture (Winfield 167). Armstrong had gained sufficient individual notice to make his recording debut as a leader on November 12, 1925. Life & Legacy Louis Armstrong Society Jazz Band 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 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. 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. 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.". 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 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. 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. Its popularity brought many people together, even through the years of racial discrimination and the Great Depression. Pops had a special place in his heart for both Chinese and Italian food. Armstrong was arrested at eleven years old for disturbing the peace. Louis Armstrong: History & Major Accomplishments After his time in Colored Waifs Home, he wanted to become a musician. 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. The book was titled Swing That Music. By 1932, Armstrong, who was now known as Satchmo, had begun appearing in movies and made his first tour of England. WebLouis Armstrong is arguably the most important musician that the United States has ever produced (Shipton 160). 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). Aristotle did not consider children as morally responsible as adults because they have not had sufficient time to move beyond their backgrounds and upbringing. Related. This was the first time anyone had ever recorded this technique known as scat singing. He influenced countless other musicians and helped to shape the course of jazz. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. 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. With his daring rhythmic choice, swinging vocabulary, and incredibly high notes; changing jazz history once again. 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. Armstrong continued to tour extensively, despite a heart attack in June 1959. 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. 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. WebLouis Armstrong was the most important and influential musician in jazz history. 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. When Armstrong returned to Chicago in 1935, he had no band, no engagements and no recording contract. Louis Daniel (Louie) Armstrong is perhaps the most important and influential person in the history of jazz music, swing music, and jazz vocal styling. 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. 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. Louis was arrested by Police When he was eleven. Because of his long improvised solos, he inspired jazz so that long solos became an important part of jazz pieces and performances. Being in many bands before he was not new to this. 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. ", During the mid-'50s, Armstrong's popularity overseas skyrocketed. In fifth grade, while being taken care of by his maternal grandmother most of the time, he left school to work. Armstrong moved to Chicago to join Oliver's band in August 1922 and made his first recordings as a member of the group in the spring of 1923. The boy's mother, Armstrong's cousin, had died in childbirth. During his span, he composed thousands of songs for everyone to hear. That same year, he recorded with small New Orleans-influenced groups, including the Hot Five, and began recording larger ensembles. The year is 1954. Louis Armstrong: Genius and Drugs 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. For the first time, Armstrong was really able to demonstrate his unique voice during those recording sessions. he is important because he was the first black singer. 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. 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. 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. (Hakim, 58) Although Jazz was very popular itself, a majority of the fans and listeners were younger people. He spread jazz throughout the world. ", Louis Armstrong was born on August 4, 1901, in New Orleans, Louisiana, in a neighborhood so poor that it was nicknamed "The Battlefield.". Within a span of three years, Armstrong recorded over sixty records. 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. WebLouis Armstrong was the protege of King Oliver and one of the best loved musicians of the Twenties. Armstrong fought back, but for many young jazz fans, he was regarded as an out-of-date performer with his best days behind him. 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. Louis Armstrongs significance and most famous songs In 1936, he became the first African American jazz musician to write an autobiography. Armstrong used to say that hed been born on July 4, 1900. 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). Biography and associated logos are trademarks of A+E Networksprotected in the US and other countries around the globe. 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. Armstrong practiced his instrument and eventually he became the jazz great everyone knows today. After a quick trip with a group of people to Venice, Mozart and his daddy returned back to his hometown Salzburg. Louis Armstrong 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. WebLouis Armstrong remains an icon of American history and 20 th century popular culture. Why Is Charlie Parker 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. In September, his recording of that song entered the charts, becoming a Top Ten hit. After being released at age fourteen, he worked selling papers, unloading boats, and selling coal from a cart. After completing the optimistic anthem, songwriters Bob Thiele and George David Weiss thought that Tony Bennett would eat it right up. 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. Many great performers have come out of the jazz industry, but the most widely known is Louis Satchmo Armstrong. Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington "Jazz 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. In a 1951 interview with Esquire, Armstrong claimed to have come prepared with printed lyrics that day. He began following him and eventually Oliver became Armstrongs mentor. Copy. 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. 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. With his amazing voice trumpet he created a band and made some records. Copy. Armstrong continued to appear in major films with the likes of Mae West, Martha Raye and Dick Powell. Wiki User. 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. Handy and Satch Plays Fats. 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. Armstrong was still a popular attraction around the world in 1963, but hadn't made a record in two years. 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. 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. 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. Louis Armstrong was an American jazz musician who was one of the most influential figures in jazz music. 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. 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.. 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). 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. Then, at the age of five, he was returned to the care of his mother, who at the time worked as a laundress. In 16967, Armstrong recorded his most renowned tune, What a Wonderful Word that surprisingly featured no trumpet. 1 slot in May 1964, and knocking the Beatles off the top at the height of Beatlemania. At the start of Armstrongs career, he married Daisy Parker. Why does Louis Armstrong sound like that 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. Changing jazz into what was once known as a ensemble music to soloist art. The records by Louis Armstrong and His Fiveand later, Hot Sevenare the most influential in jazz. 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. He was born into poverty on August 4, 1901 in the streets of Back o Town (Meckna). His music was a happiness to individuals and they said he was a gift sent from heaven. 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). He made his first recordings with Oliver on April 5, 1923; that day, he earned his first recorded solo on "Chimes Blues.". Why Louis Armstrong was important? Stwnews.org Bebop, a new form of jazz, had blossomed in the 1940s. 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. 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. Then along came a bare-knuckled comedy called Good Morning, Vietnam (1987). Is Louis He is remembered as the most influential artist in the early development of jazz. Louis Armstrong Between the two, Armstrong has been the more unsullied figure in historical treatments and biographies. Sources: He also began singing on these recordings, popularizing wordless "scat singing" with his hugely popular vocal on 1926's "Heebie Jeebies.". Armstrong's popularity continued to grow in Chicago throughout the decade, as he began playing other venues, including the Sunset Caf and the Savoy Ballroom. Armstrong had access to guns and decided to borrow a .38 that one of his stepfathers stored in a trunk in the Armstrong home (67). Louis Armstrong WebLouis Armstrong is arguably the most important musician that the United States has ever produced (Shipton 160). Love, baby - love. That same year, his longtime manager, Joe Glaser, passed away. 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. 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. 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 was the primary ever "Genius" of jazz music. To grasp how much the man adored this entre, consider that he often signed his personal letters with Red Beans and Ricely Yours.. How Did Louis Armstrong Contribute To The Harlem Renaissance I think to myself, what a wonderful world. Louis Armstrong 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. Louis Armstrong During this time, Armstrong adopted a three-year-old boy named Clarence. Flappers were commonly known during this time. 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. 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. This led some to alter his long-time nickname, Satchmo, to "Ambassador Satch.". He subsequently passed, so the duo contacted Armstrong in August 1967. 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 the 1950s, he was sometimes criticized for his onstage persona and called an Uncle Tom but he silenced critics by speaking out against the governments handling of the Little Rock Nine high school integration crisis in 1957. Louis Armstrong is one of the first great soloists in the 1920s musicians. However, conditions changed when he was requested to record the title number of a broadway show that went on to become a hit. 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. 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. WebCourtesy of the Louis Armstrong Archive Queens College, CUNY. Why was Louis Armstrong important to New Orleans? Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. Site contains certain content that is owned A&E Television Networks, LLC. His notoriety for being the best jazz player of his time was secured as Armstrong's arrangement of swing and melodic development opened out and changed Henderson's band and in addition jazz overall. He was then sent to the Colored Waif's Home for Boys. He was abandoned by his father, a boiler stoker, shortly after his birth and was raised by his paternal grandmother. Eldridge is the obvious link between Louis Armstrong and Dizzy Gillespie. When Pops (who adored Thiele and Weiss masterwork) passed away on July 6, 1971, What a Wonderful World seemed destined for stateside obscurity. 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. 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. 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. Preston gave birth to a daughter, Sharon Preston, in 1955. His career rose in New Orleans. he put his soul and dedicated his life to his music. He was a groundbreaking musician and a pioneer in the development of jazz music. 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. 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.