Louis Armstrong

Louis Daniel Armstrong (August 4, 1901{{ref|birthday}} – July 6, 1971) (also known by the nicknames Satchmo and Pops) was an American jazz musician. Probably the most famous jazz musician of the 20th century, Armstrong was a charismatic, innovative performer whose musical skills and bright personality transformed jazz from a rough regional dance music into a popular art form. Armstrong first achieved fame as a trumpeter, but was also one of the most influential jazz singers, and towards the end of his career was best known as a vocalist.

Legacy

The influence of Armstrong on the development of jazz is virtually immeasurable, but his irrepressible personality both as a performer, and later in his career as a public figure, was so strong that to some it overshadowed his contributions as a musician and singer.

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As a virtuoso trumpet player, Armstrong had a unique tone and an extraordinary talent for melodic improvisation. Through his playing, the trumpet emerged as a solo instrument in jazz. 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.

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Armstrong is considered to have essentially invented jazz singing. He had an extremely distinctive gravelly voice, which he deployed with great dexterity as an improviser, bending the lyrics and melody of a song for expressive purposes. He was also greatly skilled 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.

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Armstrong appeared in more than a dozen Hollywood films, though few of particular note, usually playing a band leader or musician. He was the first African American to host a nationally broadcast radio show in the 1930s. He also made assorted television appearances, especially in the 1950s and 1960s, including appearances on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.

Related Topics:
Film - Radio - 1930s - Television - 1950s - 1960s - The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

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Louis Armstrong has a record star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on 7601 Hollywood Blvd.

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Many of Armstrong's recordings remain popular, and decades after his death a larger number of his recordings, from all years of his career, are in print than at any time in his life. His songs are broadcast and listened to everyday throughout the world, and are honored in various movies, tv series, commercials, and even anime and computer games. For example, the Armstrong song "A Kiss to Build a Dream on" is used as the theme song for the computer game Fallout 2, and the song "What a Wonderful World" is featured in the Vandread anime. His 1923 recordings with Joe King Oliver and his Creole Jazz Band continue to be listened to as documents of ensemble style New Orleans jazz. All too often, however, Armstrong recorded with stiff, standard orchestras leaving only his sublime trumpet playing as of interest. "Melancholy Blues," performed by Armstrong and his Hot Seven was included on the Voyager Golden Record sent into outer space to represent one of the greatest achievements of humanity.

Related Topics:
Movie - Tv series - Commercials - Anime - Computer game - Theme song - Fallout 2 - Vandread - Voyager Golden Record

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Armstrong set up a non-profit foundation for educating disadvantaged children in music, and bequeathed his house and substantial archives of writings, books, recordings, and memorabilia to Queens College, New York, to take effect after his and his wife Lucille's death. The Louis Armstrong archives have been available to music researchers, and his home in Corona, Queens, opened to the public as a museum on 15 October, 2003.

Related Topics:
Queens College, New York - Museum

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The main airport in New Orleans, Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport is named for Armstrong.

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