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Louis Daniel Armstrong (August 4, 1901 - July 6, 1971),
also known by the nickname Satchmo, was an African American
jazz trumpeter, singer, and entertainer. Armstrong was an
innovative performer whose musical skills and bright personality
transformed jazz from barrelhouse dance music into a popular
art form.
The nickname Satchmo or Satch is short for Satchelmouth.
Early on he was also known as Dippermouth. These are all references
to his large mouth. Friends and fellow musicians usually called
him Pops, which is also how Armstrong usually addressed his
friends and fellow musicians (except for Pops Foster, whom
Armstrong always called "George").
Armstrong said he wasn't sure exactly when he was born, but
celebrated his birthday on the 4th of July (American Independence
Day). Armstrong usually gave the year as 1900 when speaking
in public (although he used 1901 on his Social Security and
other papers filed with the government). Armstrong's birth
date of August 4 1901 was rediscovered by New Orleans music
researcher Tad Jones from Roman Catholic church documents
from when his grandmother took him to be baptized. With various
other collaborative evidence, this date is now accepted by
Armstrong scholars.
Armstrong was born to a poor family in New Orleans. At his
death he was regarded as one of the most important musicians
of the 20th century. In a tribute to Armstrong, Bing Crosby
said: "He was the only musician who ever lived, who can't
be replaced by someone." Miles Davis said, "You
can't play anything on a horn that Louis hasn't played."
Duke Ellington said: " He was born poor, died rich, and
never hurt anyone along the way."
His Accomplishments - Made up of 3 Parts
His virtuoso playing skills including a markedly unique
tone and an extraordinary talent for melodic improvisation.
A side effect of his talent was the emergence of the trumpet
as a solo instrument in jazz. He started his career on cornet
(a trumpet-like instrument, pitched the same, but more tightly
coiled hence shorter overall, popular with New Orleans musicians),
but switched to the trumpet while with the Fletcher Henderson
Orchestra to match the instrument played by the other musicians
in his section. He was a masterful accompanist and ensemble
player in addition to his extraordinary skills as a soloist.
With his innovations, he raised the bar musically for all
who came after him.
His singing. First, there is the distinct, graveled
voice, but here too he exhibited his skill as an improviser
with his ability to bend the lyrics and melody of a song to
suit the needs of his performance, including his skill at
scat singing, or wordless vocalizing. Before Armstrong, singers
simply sang the song; after him, they were free to put their
own stamp on it.
His irrepressible personality, both as a performer,
and later in his career as a public figure. His personality
was so strong that to some it overshadowed his contributions
as a musician and singer. As an actor he had a number of supporting
roles in Hollywood films, and was the first African American
to host a nationally broadcast radio show.
His life
Armstrong's youth was spent in poverty in a rough neighborhood
of uptown New Orleans. He first learned to play cornet in
the band of the New Orleans Home for Colored Waifs where he
had been sent after firing a pistol at a New Year's Eve celebration.
He followed brass band parades and listened to older musicians
every chance he got, learning from Bunk Johnson, Buddy Petit,
and above all "King" Joe Oliver, who acted as a
mentor and almost a father figure to young Armstrong. Armstrong
later played in the brass bands and riverboats of New Orleans,
and first started traveling with the well regarded band of
Fate Marable which toured on a steamboat up and down the Mississippi
River; he described his time with Marable as "going to
the University" since it gave him a much wider experience
working with written orchestrations. When Joe Oliver left
town in 1919, Armstrong took Oliver's place in Kid Ory's band,
regarded as the top hot jazz band in the city.
In 1922 Armstrong joined the exodus to Chicago, where he
had been invited by Joe "King" Oliver to join his
Creole Jazz Band. Oliver's band was the best and most influential
hot jazz band in Chicago in the early 1920s, at a time when
Chicago was the center of jazz. Their 1923 recordings continue
to be listened to as documents of ensemble style New Orleans
jazz.
Armstrong was happy working with Oliver, but his wife, pianist
Lil Hardin Armstrong, argued that he should seek more prominent
billing. He and Oliver parted amicably in 1924 and Armstrong
moved on to New York City to play with the Fletcher Henderson
Orchestra, the top African American band of the day, and also
made many recordings on the side arranged by his old friend
from New Orleans pianist Clarence Williams. He returned to
Chicago in 1925 and began recording under his own name with
his famous Hot Five and Hot Seven with such hits as "Potato
Head Blues", "Muggles" (a reference to marijuana,
a lifelong enthusiasm for Armstrong), and "West End Blues"
which music set the standard and the agenda for jazz for many
years to come. "Melancholy Blues," performed by
Armstrong and his Hot Seven was included on the Voyager Golden
Record sent into outer space to represent the greatest achievements
of humanity.
Armstrong returned to New York in 1929, then moved to Los
Angeles in 1930, then toured Europe. He spent years on the
road touring before he settled permanently in Queens, New
York in 1943.
All too often, however, Armstrong was recorded with stiff,
standard orchestras leaving only his sublime trumpet playing
as of interest. He continued to develop as a live performer,
however, and had great popularity in night clubs. All the
while, the world could watch the flowering of jazz genius
unlike any other. Although subject to the vicissitudes of
Tin Pan Alley and the gangster-ridden music business, he continued
to develop his appeal. He continued to tour for the next 30
years on a grueling 300+ days a year on one-night stands.
He also appeared in over 30 films.
Most of his touring after the late 1940s was with a small
stable group called the All Stars, which included Barney Bigard,
Jack Teagarden, Earl Hines, Trummy Young, and Barrett Deems.
He also continued an active recording career.
Louis Armstrong died on July 6, 1971 and was interred in
the Flushing Cemetery, Flushing, Queens, New York.
Quotations
"All music is folk music. I ain't never heard a horse
sing a song." -- Louis Armstrong
"
Information provided by wikipedia.org
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