Biography of Louis Armstrong

1420 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: changes in the music industry

Success is a path way, full of mysterious wonders. Many strive to accomplish, while others wait for success to find them. Louis Armstrong’s life was similar to this. Armstrong strived and strived until he reached to a point in his life where he was comfortable with his fourth wife, Lucille Wilson. Armstrong is ultimately known as the creator of jazz and blues. He was awarded this title by using his talents when he was a young boy growing up in a rough neighborhood. Armstrong’s talent was a result of his childhood and young adult life. Growing up, Armstrong was exposed to music in his surroundings. Armstrong obtained this fantastic talent, therefore causing him to establish it in a well minded surrounding; creating his success and fame.
Louis Armstrong was born on August 4, 1901 in New Orleans, Louisiana (Burns). Armstrong grew up in Storyville district, a rough neighborhood also referred to as “Battlefield.” Battlefield had a reputation for prostitution and drugs. Armstrong’s mother was a single divorced mother, supporting two children. This resulted in Armstrong’s urge to assist his mother in their time of need. Thus, causing him to abandon his fifth grade education to sing on street corners for pennies, sell newspapers to locals, and deliver coal to customers (“Louis Armstrong”). “The initial success was followed by others. In darkness or moonlight the boys set forth and sing for pennies…” (Eaton 35). Armstrong grew up under the impression of “Colored people…could afford nothing but the cheapest lodgings… No projects existed to provide decent housing for family or play grounds… Louis and his friends had to play in cluttered backyards or foul streets… with no realization of injustice; they had jolly times at their games” (15). De...

... middle of paper ...

...ive on. Ultimately we as a society can testify that Louis Armstrong was not only known for being the creator of jazz but being the individual that installed rhythm into our everyday lives.
Louis Armstrong is diversely known as the father of jazz. Growing up he used his talents to help support his family, but he also worked manual labor for companies. Armstrong earned money by singing on street corners, selling coal, and selling newspapers to the locals of the neighborhood. Throughout his time, Armstrong was surrounded by rhythms that could sway a person away and beats that will make a person’s heart pump right out of your chest. Armstrong’s knowledge established him in a working career in the music industry until his death on July 6, 1971. All in all, we can make the conclusion that Armstrong’s talent pulled him out of a dream and into his own magnificent reality.

Show More
Related

  • Compare And Contrast Bix Beiderbeck And Louis Armstroner

    1816 Words  | 4 Pages

    Louis has being the most prominent trumpet player in history. His trumpet playing techniques significantly impacted all other instrument players who came after him and emulated his techniques in all other instruments. His style and innovative perspective of jazz changed all the forthcoming jazz singers who had a lot to learn from him, including Bix who learnt a lot from Louis Armstrong. Two of his most famous hit sounds were “What a Wonderful World” as well as “Hello Dolly” among others. The emotions attached to his music is what attracted most people and led to the spread of his music. The charm present in the music was also adored and enjoyed by

    Read More

  • Louis Armstrong Research Paper

    503 Words  | 2 Pages

    Jazz as a general genre reached its peak in the thirties. Jazz was incredibly popular with both the Black community, and the white community; however, Jazz reached the adolescents the most. Jazz music was associated with the African American culture during this time of increible racial tension, subsequently the ‘teens’ of this generation began to tune into this genre for its rebelistic qualities. Popular forms of jazz music often included, Dixieland/’hot’ jazz, classical jazz, and bebop. The defining artist of hot jazz was Louis Armstrong. This music was characterized by collective improvised solos, around melodic structure, that ideally built up to an emotional and "Hot" climax. The rhythm section, which typically consists of percussion, bass, banjo, or guitar helps to support this crescendo, many times in the style of a

    Read More

  • Jelly Roll Morton, a Brief Biography

    1460 Words  | 3 Pages

    Though Jelly Roll Morton began his career without formal training, he grew to live an influential life. His piano style, musical notations on paper, and creative compositions thrived in the 1910s and the 1920s and even weaved its way into the later eras as musicians used Morton’s music as the foundation for their own. Even past his death, Jelly Roll Morton remains a legendary figure. His works are meticulously preserved and displayed in the prestigious Smithsonian Museum and universities around the world continue his legacy by teaching students about Jelly Roll Morton and his influential career.

    Read More

  • The Impact Of Louis Armstrong's Influence On American History

    1133 Words  | 3 Pages

    “His relaxed phrasing was a major change from the staccato style of the early 20’s and helped to set the stage for the Swing Era” (“Life & Legacy”). And as such a prominent artist, and in particular, jazz artist, Armstrong did not only change the perception of jazz and swing, but the views on African Americans and their culture. Armstrong and the Harlem Renaissance reflected black history and culture, and it became popular, even in white communities and clubs. Jazz as a whole genre helped further society’s views through the universal language of music, where any ethnicity could partake in it. And the revolution of jazz was lead by the stylings of Louis Armstrong. The duration of the jazz and swing era, lasting decades past the 1920s, symbolized the civil rights movement directly through the lyrics, sounds, and artists

    Read More

  • Jazz Music: Louis Armstrong And The Great Depression

    1025 Words  | 3 Pages

    It was said that he thought he was born on July 4, 1900 (Armstrong 7). While Louis was still an infant his father, William Armstrong, abandoned his family. He spent the first years of his life living with his Grandmother since at the time his parents were going through a separation. At age 5, he moved into a home with his mother and sister, Beatrice, whom he called Mama Lucy. He grew up in a rough section of New Orleans. They were incredibly poor and did not have enough money. He would work different jobs just to take care of his family. Louis would work anywhere that he would be able to find work. He would sing on the street, which would result in his nickname, Satchelmouth that would be shorten to Satchmo. His nickname was a result of him having a wide

    Read More

  • Biography Of Louis Satchmo Armstrong

    628 Words  | 2 Pages

    Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong was born to Mary and William Armstrong on August 4, 1901 in New Orleans, Louisiana. He grew up in poverty, and his father left his family while Armstrong was a baby. After his father left, Armstrong and his younger sister Beatrice were passed back and forth between their grandmother and uncle until they moved back in with their mother when Armstrong was five years old. He went to the Fisk School for Boys until he was eleven and experienced a variety of music and dances during his attendance. At eleven years old, Armstrong quit school at the Fisk School for boys. He sang in a quartet of boys who performed for money in the streets. In 1913, he shot his stepfather’s pistol into the air during a New Year’s Eve party, and he was sent to the New Orleans Home for Colored Waifs for one year. Armstrong played the cornet in the Home’s band, and they traveled around New Orleans playing at various places. His teacher, Peter Davis, acted as his mentor at this time, and he made Armstrong the leader of the band. It was then that his musical skills began to develop, and he ...

    Read More

  • Louis Armstrong's Impact On Jazz

    806 Words  | 2 Pages

    Louis Armstrong once said, “When you play jazz, you don’t lie. You play from the heart. If ya ain’t got it in ya, ya can’t blow it out.” Armstrong truly had “it” in him; there is no doubt that his heart was completely full of jazz. Because of this passion deep in his soul, he made a lasting impact on the world of jazz that still continues to affect our lives. The life, role, and contributions of Louis Armstrong helped lay the foundation of jazz music and helped it become what it is today.

    Read More

  • Louis Armstrong's Influence Of Jazz And The Swing Age

    1354 Words  | 3 Pages

    Armstrong's influence was clear on the next generation of singers. Louis' singing, particularly his phrasing, was imitated by several musicians including Bing Cosby, Billie Holiday, and Frank Sinatra ("Life"), three of music's biggest icons. The impact was perpetuated as generations of musicians were influenced more musicians and so on, until today. This chain is all traced back to Louis, meaning that Louis put music on the path that it is on today. Armstrong, using both his voice and trumpet playing, set the future of music on a very bright and promising path, affecting almost all musicians to

    Read More

  • The History Of Swing Music By Louis Armstrong

    633 Words  | 2 Pages

    Louis Armstrong was a jazz musician and was nicknamed Satchmo. He was considered the founding father of jazz and king of jazz. He played a role in the civil rights movement and was known to be the first scat singer. His band the, Hot Five, was one of the popular bands known for making swing music trendy. His music set the standards for jazz till this day. Louis Armstrong is still known as one of the greatest African- American entertainers.

    Read More

  • West End Blues: Louis Armstrong's Impact On Jazz Music

    455 Words  | 1 Pages

    When it comes to jazz music, there is one name that everyone knows, whether they’ve never listened to jazz before or if they’ve listened to it their whole lives. That name is Louis Armstrong. Armstrong was one of the pioneers of jazz music, from his humble beginnings in one of New Orleans roughest districts, “the Battlefield”, to playing concerts for sold out crowds in Chicago and New York City, Louis left a massive impact on the way America listened to music for a long time. One of his premier tracks, “West End Blues”, left an impact on jazz music, which other musicians would try to emulate for years.

    Read More

  • Impact of Music of the Harlem Renaissance Upon the Artists of Today

    1614 Words  | 4 Pages

    All types of music require musicians. In the H.R (Harlem Renaissance), there were many who contributed to this new style of music known as jazz. These musicians all have their own style and form. Each of these styles has in some way influenced the evolution of jazz. Louis “Sachmo” Armstrong is recognized as the most famous trumpet player of this time. His “hot bop” style was heard in places like the Cotton Club and the Apollo Theatre. Everyone from all over the country would come to see him. Armstrong recorded such works as I’m in the Mood for Love, and You Rascal you (http://library.thinkquest.org/26656/english/music.html). Another famous person during this era was Coleman Hawkins, a saxophone player. Hawkins is recognized as the first great saxophonists of Jazz. His most famous work was a piece named Body and Soul (http://library.thinkquest.org…). Hawkins has also recorded with artists such as Thelonious Monk and Duke Ellington. Other people such as Bessie Smith, Josephine Baker, Duke Ellington, and “Dizzie” Gillespie have also made many contributions to the development of Jazz.

    Read More

  • The Great Gatsby: America in the 1920s

    2392 Words  | 5 Pages

    Also known as the Jazz Age and the Roaring Twenties, the American people felt that they deserved to have some fun in order to forget the emotional toll and social scars left from the war. The Jazz Age was appropriately named due to the illegal activities and good times, which included music, parties, and flapper girls. Jazz was a new style of music that originated out of the New Orleans area, where one of the greatest jazz musicians of all time – Louis Armstrong – began his career. The energy of jazz was a very new and almost uncomfortable style for the very traditional, rigid family of the 1920s. Young people in particular seemed to enjoy this new music the most, as it made them feel carefree. The energy of jazz was symbolic of the era’s trans...

    Read More

  • Music History thru the Middle Ages, Rennisance, Baroque, etc...

    1978 Words  | 4 Pages

    ...elopment of early jazz styles. Improvisation was his thing and he was very good at it. Armstrong also introduced scat singing to the jazz world by accident during a recording.

    Read More

  • (What Did I Do To Be So Black And Blue, By Louis Armstrong

    1221 Words  | 3 Pages

    Louis Armstrong’s rendition of “(What Did I Do to Be So) Black and Blue” altered various components of the original tune as he incorporated several jazz techniques typical of the 1920’s and pulled the piece out of its original context of Broadway. Doing so greatly changed the piece as a whole and its meaning, to call attention to the necessity of civil rights for the black population. Armstrong’s life was not purely devoted to music. As a civil rights advocate for the black population in the U.S., he grabbed the attention of the government through his fame and helped to bring equal rights to his brethren. But at times, Armstrong allowed his actions to undermine the importance of African American civil rights, which created negative sentiments

    Read More

  • How Music Speaks to the Soul

    949 Words  | 2 Pages

    ... Armstrong, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie and others, helped to create the jazz that we have until today.

    Read More

More about Biography of Louis Armstrong

Open Document