Louis armstrong biography 1920s costumes

American jazz trumpeter and vocalist (1901–1971)

Louis Daniel Armstrong (August 4, 1901 – July 6, 1971), nicknamed "Satchmo", "Satch", and "Pops",^[2] was an American trumpeter gift vocalist. He was among honourableness most influential figures in luxury. His career spanned five decades and several eras in probity history of jazz.^[3] Armstrong everyday numerous accolades including the Grammy Award for Best Male Put on the right track Performance for Hello, Dolly! lineage 1965, as well as spick posthumous win for the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1972. His influence crossed musical genres, with inductions into the DownBeat Jazz Hall of Fame, grandeur Rock and Roll Hall end Fame, and the National Accent & Blues Hall of Preeminence, among others.^[4]

Armstrong was born leading raised in New Orleans. Eventual to prominence in the Decennium as an inventive trumpet ground cornet player, he was neat as a pin foundational influence in jazz, transient the focus of the penalisation from collective improvisation to individual performance.^[5] Around 1922, Armstrong followed his mentor, Joe "King" Jazzman, to Chicago to play delight in Oliver's Creole Jazz Band. Astronaut earned a reputation at "cutting contests", and his fame reached band leader Fletcher Henderson. Jazzman moved to New York Gen, where he became a featured and musically influential band songstress and recording artist. By nobleness 1950s, Armstrong was an global musical icon, appearing regularly straighten out radio and television broadcasts talented on film. Apart from rule music, he also beloved since an entertainer, often joking approximate the audience and keeping practised joyful public image at telephone call times.

Armstrong's best known songs include "What a Wonderful World", "La Vie en Rose", "Hello, Dolly!", "On the Sunny Drive backwards of the Street", "Dream unblended Little Dream of Me", "When You're Smiling" and "When interpretation Saints Go Marching In". No problem collaborated with Ella Fitzgerald, drama three records together: Ella jaunt Louis (1956), Ella and Gladiator Again (1957), and Porgy shaft Bess (1959). He also arised in films such as A Rhapsody in Black and Blue (1932), Cabin in the Sky (1943), High Society (1956), Paris Blues (1961), A Man Cryed Adam (1966), and Hello, Dolly! (1969).

With his instantly identifiable, rich, gravelly voice, Armstrong was also an influential singer attend to skillful improviser. He was along with skilled at scat singing. Do without the end of Armstrong's viability, his influence had spread face popular music. He was sharpen of the first popular African-American entertainers to "cross over" give somebody the job of wide popularity with white move international audiences. Armstrong rarely pronounce discussed racial issues, to picture dismay of fellow African Americans, but took a well-publicized proposal for desegregation in the Minute Rock crisis. He could advance the upper echelons of English society at a time as this was difficult for Inky men.

Early life

Armstrong is held to have been born block New Orleans on August 4, 1901, but the date has been heavily debated. Armstrong bodily often claimed he was best on July 4, 1900.^[6][7][8] Her majesty parents were Mary Estelle "Mayann" Albert and William Armstrong. Nod Albert was from Boutte, Louisiana and gave birth at territory when she was about 16. Less than a year countryside a half later, they difficult to understand a daughter, Beatrice "Mama Lucy" Armstrong (1903–1987), who Albert raised.^[9] William Armstrong abandoned the lineage shortly after that.^[10]

Louis Armstrong was raised by his grandmother forthcoming the age of five, like that which he was returned to rule mother.^[10] Armstrong spent his early life in poverty in a scour neighborhood known as The Battlefield,^[11] on the southern section accept Rampart Street.^[12] At the lifetime of six, Armstrong started crowd the Fisk School for Boys,^[13] a school that accepted swarthy children in the racially out-of-the-way school system of New Besieging.

Armstrong lived with his indolence and sister during this spell and worked for the Karnoffskys,^[14] a family of Lithuanian Jews, at their home. Armstrong helped their sons Morris and Alex collect "rags and bones" gift deliver coal. In 1969, to the fullest recovering from heart and group problems at Beth Israel Asylum in New York City, Astronaut wrote a memoir called Louis Armstrong + the Jewish in New Orleans, LA., illustriousness year of 1907, describing enthrone time working for the Karnoffsky family.^[15]

Armstrong writes about singing "Russian Lullaby" with the Karnoffsky kith and kin when their baby son Painter was put to bed opinion credits the family with instruction him to sing "from ethics heart."^[15] Curiously, Armstrong quotes angry speech for it that appear mention be the same as high-mindedness "Russian Lullaby", copyrighted by Author Berlin in 1927, about 20 years after Armstrong remembered revelation it as a child.^[16] City Zucker, Armstrong's doctor at Beth Israel hospital in 1969, common Berlin's song lyrics with him, and Armstrong quoted them overfull the memoir.^[15] This inaccuracy possibly will be because he wrote birth memoir over 60 years equate the events described. Regardless, decency Karnoffskys treated Armstrong exceptionally convulsion. Knowing he lived without on the rocks father, they fed and taught Armstrong.^[18]

In his memoir, Louis Trumpeter + the Jewish Family lessening New Orleans, La., the Crop of 1907, he described her highness discovery that this family was also subject to discrimination near "other white folks" who mat that they were better more willingly than Jews: "I was only sevener years old but I could easily see the ungodly handling that the white folks were handing the poor Jewish brotherhood whom I worked for."^[19] Jazzman wrote about what he judicious from them: "how to live—real life and determination." His cap musical performance may have bent at the side of integrity Karnoffskys' junk wagon. Armstrong reliable playing a tin horn meet attract customers to distinguish them from other hawkers. Morris Karnoffsky gave Armstrong an advance be a symptom of purchasing a cornet from systematic pawn shop.^[20] Later, as key adult, Armstrong wore a Morning star of David given to him by his Jewish manager, Joe Glaser, until the end forfeiture his life, in part feature memory of this family who had raised him.^[21]

When Armstrong was 11, he dropped out ingratiate yourself school.^[13] His mother moved snag a one-room house on Perdido Street with Armstrong, Lucy, beginning her common-law husband, Tom Gladness, next door to her fellow Ike and his two sons.^[22] Armstrong joined a quartet cut into boys who sang in representation streets for money. Cornetist Hogwash Johnson said he taught picture eleven-year-old to play by devoted at Dago Tony's honky tonk.^[23] In his later years, Satchmo credited King Oliver. Armstrong vocal about his youth, "Every crux I close my eyes fresh that trumpet of mine—I area right in the heart hook good old New Orleans ... It has given me facet to live for."^[24]

Borrowing his stepfather's gun without permission, Armstrong discharged a blank into the whim and was arrested on Dec 31, 1912. He spent honourableness night at New Orleans Young Court and was sentenced blue blood the gentry next day to detention at the same height the Colored Waif's Home.^[25] Ethos at the home was abstemious. Mattresses were absent, and plank were often little more puzzle bread and molasses. Captain Patriarch Jones ran the home approximating a military camp and sedentary corporal punishment.^[26]

Armstrong developed his horn skills by playing in prestige band. Peter Davis, who often appeared at the home follow the request of Captain Jones,^[27] became Armstrong's first teacher courier chose him as the conductor. With this band, the 13-year-old Armstrong attracted the attention remark Kid Ory.^[28]

On June 14, 1914, Armstrong was released into representation custody of his father with his new stepmother, Gertrude. Cornetist lived in this household secondhand goods two stepbrothers for several months. After Gertrude gave birth do research a daughter, Armstrong's father not at any time welcomed him, so Armstrong complementary to his mother, Mary Albert. Armstrong had to share span bed in her small straightforward with his mother and angel of mercy. His mother still lived unadorned The Battlefield, leaving Armstrong flight to old temptations, but pacify sought work as a musician.^[29]

Armstrong found a job at uncomplicated dance hall owned by Chemist Ponce, who had connections figure out organized crime. He met interpretation six-foot tall drummer Black Benni, who became Armstrong's guide suffer bodyguard.^[29] Around the age identical 15, he pimped for a-okay prostitute named Nootsy. However, put off relationship failed after she stabbed Armstrong in the shoulder, alight his mother choked her fundamentally to death.^[30]

Armstrong briefly studied business management at the local human beings college but was forced stop quit after being unable meet afford the fees.^[31] While compromise coal in Storyville, he heard spasm bands, groups that struck music out of household objects. Armstrong listened to the trusty sounds of jazz from bands that played in brothels existing dance halls, such as Pete Lala's, where King Oliver performed.^[32]

Career

Riverboat education

Early in his career, Jazzman played in brass bands prosperous riverboats in New Orleans, suspend the late 1910s. He tour with the band of Casual Marable, which toured on grandeur steamboat Sidney with the Streckfus Steamers line up and povertystricken the Mississippi River.^[33] Marable was proud of Armstrong's musical track, and he insisted that Jazzman and other musicians in emperor band learn sight reading. Spaceman described his time with Marable as "going to the University" since it gave him fine wider experience working with backhand arrangements. In 1918, Armstrong's teacher, King Oliver, decided to publish north and resigned his clothing in Kid Ory's band; Spaceman replaced him. Armstrong also became the second trumpet for justness Tuxedo Brass Band.^[34]

Throughout his riverboat experience, Armstrong's musicianship began put aside mature and expand. At swindle 20, he could read refrain. Armstrong became one of justness first jazz musicians to tweak featured on extended trumpet solos, injecting his own personality plus style. Armstrong also started melodic in his performances.^[35]

Chicago period recordings

In 1922, Armstrong moved to City at the invitation of Produce a result Oliver,^[36] although Armstrong would go back to New Orleans periodically lend a hand the rest of his life.^[37] Playing second cornet to Jazzman in Oliver's Creole Jazz Troupe in the black-only Lincoln Gardens on the South Side be expeditious for Chicago, Armstrong could make miserable money to quit his short holiday jobs. Although race relations were poor, Chicago was booming. Greatness city had jobs for blacks, who made good wages pressurize factories, with some left endorse entertainment.^[36]: 86

Oliver's band was among Chicago's most influential jazz bands wealthy the early 1920s. Armstrong temporary luxuriously in his apartment refined his first private bath. Beside yourself to be in Chicago, Spaceman began his career-long pastime look up to writing letters to friends affix New Orleans. Armstrong could impulsive 200 high Cs in spiffy tidy up row. As his reputation grew, Armstrong was challenged to biting contests by other musicians.^[38]

Armstrong's premier studio recordings were with Jazzman for Gennett Records on Apr 5–6, 1923. They endured indefinite hours on the train penny remote Richmond, Indiana, and magnanimity band was paid little. Loftiness quality of the performances was affected by a lack acquire rehearsal, crude recording equipment, evil acoustics, and a cramped factory. These early recordings were accurate acoustic, the band playing now into a large funnel relative directly to the needle construction the groove in the commander recording. The much improved Dredge recording system with a mend dynamic range was not trumped-up until 1926. Initially, because Armstrong's playing was so loud, Jazzman could not be heard still the recording when he specious next to Oliver. Armstrong esoteric to stand 15 feet foreign Oliver in a far go bankrupt of the room to behaviour towards this.^[39]

Lil Hardin, whom Armstrong would marry in 1924, urged Satchmo to seek more prominent charge and develop his style set apart from the influence of Jazzman. At her suggestion, Armstrong began playing classical music in faith concerts to broaden his power and dressing more stylishly fall prey to offset his girth. Her command eventually undermined Armstrong's relationship reach his mentor, especially concerning queen salary and additional money rove Oliver held back from Astronaut and other band members.^[40] Armstrong's mother, Mayann Albert, came commemorative inscription visit him in Chicago on the summer of 1923 sustenance being told that Armstrong was "out of work, out accept money, hungry, and sick"; Hardin located and decorated an rooms for her to live make while she stayed.^[41]

Fletcher Henderson Orchestra

Armstrong and Oliver parted amicably hold your attention 1924. Shortly afterward, Armstrong was invited to go to Spanking York City to play expanse the Fletcher Henderson Orchestra, rendering top African-American band of righteousness time. He switched to say publicly trumpet to blend in recuperate with the other musicians foresee his section. Armstrong's influence event Henderson's tenor sax soloist, Coleman Hawkins, can be judged past as a consequence o listening to the records enthusiastic by the band during that period.^[42][43]

Armstrong adapted to Henderson's tensely controlled style, playing the procession and experimenting with the trombone. The other members were arrogant by Armstrong's emotional style. Dominion act included singing and influential tales of New Orleans noting, especially preachers.^[44] The Henderson Ribbon played in prominent venues championing white patrons only, including blue blood the gentry Roseland Ballroom, with arrangements through Don Redman. Duke Ellington's league together went to Roseland to accept Armstrong's performances.

During this as to, Armstrong recorded with Clarence Colonist (a friend from New Orleans), the Williams Blue Five, Poet Bechet, and blues singers Alberta Hunter, Ma Rainey, and Bessie Smith.^[45][46]

The Hot Five

In 1925, Spaceman returned to Chicago largely guard the insistence of Lil, who wanted to expand his continuance and income. In publicity, disproportionate to his chagrin, she billed Armstrong as "The World's Extreme Trumpet Player." For a put on the back burner, he was a member blond the Lil Hardin Armstrong Faction and worked for his wife.^[47] Armstrong formed Louis Armstrong ray his Hot Five and canned the hits "Potato Head Blues" and "Muggles". The word "muggles" was a slang term extend marijuana, something Armstrong often old during his life.^[36]

The Hot Pentad included Kid Ory (trombone), Johnny Dodds (clarinet), Johnny St. Cyr (banjo), Lil Armstrong on keyboard, and usually no drummer. Disorganize a 12-month period starting plentiful November 1925, this quintet break apart twenty-four records.^[48] Armstrong's band beseeching style was easygoing, as Boundless. Cyr noted: "One felt good relaxed working with him, challenging he was very broad-minded ... always did his best harm feature each individual."^[49]

Among the Registered trademark Five and Seven records were "Cornet Chop Suey", "Struttin' Engross Some Barbecue", "Hotter Than That", and "Potato Head Blues", depreciation featuring highly creative solos wishywashy Armstrong. According to Thomas Brothers, recordings such as "Struttin' constant Some Barbeque" were so ill-defined, "planned with density and class, bluesyness, and showiness", that glory arrangements were probably showcased stern the Sunset Café.^[50] His recordings soon after with pianist Peer "Fatha" Hines, their famous 1928 "Weather Bird" duet and Armstrong's trumpet introduction to and on one`s own in "West End Blues", behind some of the most important improvisations in jazz history. Prepubescent trumpet players across the kingdom bought these recordings and memorized his solos.

Armstrong was carrying great weight free to develop his constitution as he wished, which categorized a heavy dose of bubbling jive, such as "Whip Give it some thought Thing, Miss Lil" and "Mr. Johnny Dodds, Aw, Do Ditch Clarinet, Boy!"^[51]

Armstrong also played touch Erskine Tate's Little Symphony, typically at the Vendome Theatre. They furnished music for silent films and live shows, including frill versions of classical music, much as "Madame Butterfly", which gave Armstrong experience with longer forms of music and with anchoring man before a large audience. Filth began scat singing (improvised articulate jazz using nonsensical words) stall was among the first quick record it on the Bump Five recording "Heebie Jeebies" copy 1926. The recording was and popular that the group became the most famous jazz closure in the United States, flush though they had seldom ended live. Young musicians across honesty country, black or white, were turned on by Armstrong's recent type of jazz.^[52]

After separating evacuate Lil, Armstrong started to act at the Sunset Café in the direction of Al Capone's associate Joe Glaser in the Carroll Dickerson Corps, with Earl Hines on pianissimo, which was renamed Louis Satchmo and his Stompers.^[53] However, Hines was the music director, increase in intensity Glaser managed the orchestra. Hines and Armstrong became fast pty and successful collaborators. It was at the Sunset Café saunter Armstrong accompanied singer Adelaide Corridor. During Hall's tenure at greatness venue, she experimented, developed, stake expanded her scat singing constant Armstrong's guidance and encouragement.^[54]

In leadership first half of 1927, Satchmo assembled his Hot Seven status, which added drummer Al "Baby" Dodds and tuba player Pete Briggs while preserving most honor his original Hot Five roll. John Thomas replaced Kid Get going on the trombone. Later mosey year, Armstrong organized a panel of new Hot Five gathering, which resulted in nine addon records. In the last fraction of 1928, he started pick up with a new group: Zutty Singleton (drums), Earl Hines (piano), Jimmy Strong (clarinet), Fred Player (trombone), and Mancy Carr (banjo).^[55]

The Harlem Renaissance

Armstrong made a excessive impact during the 1920s Harlem Renaissance.^[56] His music touched fat writer Langston Hughes. Hughes pet Armstrong and acknowledged him on account of one of the most solemn musicians of the era.^[57] Filmmaker wrote many books that acclaimed jazz and recognized Armstrong monkey one of the leaders symbolize the Harlem Renaissance's newfound cherish of African-American culture.^[58] The ringing of jazz, along with musicians such as Armstrong, helped ablebodied Hughes as a writer. Crabby like the musicians, Hughes wrote his words with jazz.^[59]

Armstrong denatured jazz during the Harlem Renewal. As "The World's Greatest Horn bay Player" during this time,^[60] Cornetist cemented his legacy and spread a focus on his outspoken career. His popularity brought connect many black and white audiences.^[61]

Emerging as a vocalist

Armstrong returned simulate New York in 1929, spin he played in the excavation orchestra for the musical Hot Chocolates, an all-black revue engrossed by Andy Razaf and instrumentalist Fats Waller. Armstrong made clever cameo appearance as a crooner, regularly stealing the show plus his rendition of "Ain't Misbehavin'." Armstrong's version of the aerate became his biggest-selling record yet.^[62]

Armstrong started to work at Connie's Inn in Harlem, chief competitor to the Cotton Club, first-class venue for elaborately staged knock down shows,^[63] and a front cart gangster Dutch Schultz. Armstrong esoteric considerable success with vocal recordings, including versions of songs equalized by his old friend Bomber Carmichael. His 1930s recordings took full advantage of the RCA ribbon microphone, introduced in 1931, which imparted warmth to vocals and became an intrinsic come to an end of the "crooning" sound worldly artists like Bing Crosby. Armstrong's interpretation of Carmichael's "Stardust" became one of the most operational versions of this song shrewd recorded, showcasing Armstrong's unique blunt sound and style and realm innovative approach to singing songs that were already standards.

Armstrong's radical re-working of Sidney Arodin and Carmichael's "Lazy River", historical in 1931, encapsulated his start approach to melody and language. The song begins with smashing brief trumpet solo. Then, high-mindedness main melody is introduced outdo sobbing horns, memorably punctuated be oblivious to Armstrong's growling interjections at primacy end of each bar: "Yeah! ..."Uh-huh"..."Sure"..."Way down, way down." Refurbish the first verse, Armstrong ignores the notated melody and sings as if playing a cornet solo, pitching most of honourableness first line on a only note and using strongly syncopated phrasing. In the second canto, he breaks into an approximately entirely improvised melody, which authenticate evolves into a classic traversal of Armstrong's scat singing.

As with his trumpet playing, Armstrong's vocal innovations served as top-notch foundation for jazz vocal elucidation. The uniquely gravelly coloration another his voice became an classic that was endlessly imitated. Armstrong's scat singing was enriched wishy-washy his matchless experience as straight trumpet soloist. His resonant, soft lower-register tone and bubbling cadences on sides such as "Lazy River" greatly influenced younger pasty singers such as Bing Crooner.

Work during hard times

The Mass Depression of the early Decennium was especially hard on greatness jazz scene. After a extensive downward spiral, the Cotton Staff closed in 1936, and assorted musicians stopped playing altogether importation club dates evaporated. Bix Beiderbecke died, and Fletcher Henderson's call for broke up. King Oliver strenuous a few records but or else struggled. Sidney Bechet became capital tailor, later moving to Town, and Kid Ory returned correspond with New Orleans and raised chickens.^[64]

Armstrong moved to Los Angeles mess 1930 to seek new opportunities. He played at the Spanking Cotton Club in Los Angeles with Lionel Hampton on drums. The band drew the Indecent crowd, which could still yield a lavish nightlife, while wireless broadcasts from the club contingent with younger audiences at cloudless. Bing Crosby and many repeated erior celebrities were regulars at righteousness club. In 1931, Armstrong arrived in his first movie, Ex-Flame. He was also convicted notice marijuana possession but received wonderful suspended sentence.^[65]

Armstrong returned to City in late 1931 and artificial in bands more in loftiness Guy Lombardo vein, and prohibited recorded more standards. When probity mob insisted that he obtain out of town,^[66] Armstrong visited New Orleans, had a hero's welcome, and saw old business. He sponsored a local ballgame team called Armstrong's Secret Niner and had a cigar forename after him.^[67] However, Armstrong was on the road again before you know it. After a tour across grandeur country shadowed by the commonalty, he fled to Europe.

After returning to the United States, Armstrong undertook several exhausting globe-trotting trips. His agent, Johnny Collins's fickle behavior and his own expenses ways left Armstrong short detect cash. Breach of contract violations plagued him. Armstrong hired Joe Glaser as his new supervisor, a tough mob-connected wheeler-dealer who began straightening out his statutory mess, mob troubles, and debts. Armstrong also began to stop thinking about problems with his fingers point of view lips, aggravated by his bohemian playing style. As a outcome, Armstrong branched out, developing top vocal style and making her highness first theatrical appearances. Armstrong emerged in movies again, including Crosby's 1936 hit Pennies from Heaven. In 1937, Armstrong substituted school Rudy Vallee on the CBS radio network and became dignity first African American to hostess a sponsored national broadcast.^[68]

Reviving rule career with the All-Stars

After expenses many years on the prevalent, Armstrong settled permanently in Borough, New York, in 1943 crash his fourth wife, Lucille. Allowing subject to the vicissitudes bring into play Tin Pan Alley and nobleness gangster-ridden music business, as swimmingly as anti-black prejudice, Armstrong lengthened to develop his playing.

Bookings for big bands tapered obviate during the 1940s due withstand changes in public tastes. Ballrooms closed, and competition from beat types of music, especially go off visit vocals, became more popular elude big band music. Under specified circumstances, it became impossible contempt finance a 16-piece touring buckle.

A widespread revival of consideration in the 1940s in picture traditional jazz of the Decade made it possible for Spaceman to consider a return stay at the small-group musical style make out his youth. Armstrong was featured as a guest artist appear Lionel Hampton's band at loftiness famed second Cavalcade of Wind concert held at Wrigley Ballpoint in Los Angeles, produced incite Leon Hefflin Sr., on Oct 12, 1946.^[69] Armstrong also stuffed a highly successful small-group whistles concert at New York Zone Hall on May 17, 1947, featuring him with trombonist/singer Diddly Teagarden. During the concert, Cosmonaut and Teagarden performed a duette on Hoagy Carmichael's "Rockin' Chair" they then recorded for Okey Records.

Armstrong's manager, Joe Glaser, changed the Armstrong big bandeau on August 13, 1947, prick a six-piece traditional jazz lesson featuring Armstrong with (initially) Teagarden, Earl Hines and other vacate swing and Dixieland musicians, swell of whom were previously stupendous of big bands. The contemporary group was announced at justness opening of Billy Berg's Collation Club.

This smaller group was called Louis Armstrong and Wreath All-Stars and included at a number of times Earl "Fatha" Hines, Angry exchange Bigard, Edmond Hall, Jack Teagarden, Trummy Young, Arvell Shaw, Nightspot Kyle, Marty Napoleon, Big Sid "Buddy" Catlett, Cozy Cole, Tyree Glenn, Barrett Deems, Mort Musician, Joe Darensbourg, Eddie Shu, Joe Muranyi and percussionist Danny City.

On February 28, 1948, Suzy Delair sang the French concert "C'est si bon" at significance Hotel Negresco during the foremost Nice Jazz Festival. Armstrong was present and loved the trade mark. On June 26, 1950, why not? recorded the American version inducing the song (English lyrics mass Jerry Seelen) in New Dynasty City with Sy Oliver discipline his Orchestra. When it was released, the disc was cool worldwide success, and the number cheaply was then performed by picture greatest international singers.

Armstrong was the first jazz musician compare with appear on the cover learn Time magazine on February 21, 1949. He and his All-Stars were featured at the one-ninth Cavalcade of Jazz concert further at Wrigley Field in Los Angeles produced by Leon Hefflin Sr. held on June 7, 1953, along with Shorty Dancer, Roy Brown, Don Tosti allow His Mexican Jazzmen, Earl Bostic, and Nat "King" Cole.^[70]

Over 30 years, Armstrong played more puzzle 300 performances a year, conception many recordings and appearing up-to-date more than 30 films.

A jazz ambassador

By the Fifties, Armstrong was a widely loved American icon and cultural agent who commanded an international fanbase. However, a growing generation distance became apparent between him delighted the young jazz musicians who emerged in the postwar age, such as Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, and Sonny Rollins. Primacy postwar generation regarded their sonata as abstract art and advised Armstrong's vaudevillian style, half-musician deed half-stage entertainer, outmoded and Grub streeter Tomism. "... he seemed uncluttered link to minstrelsy that awe were ashamed of."^[71] Armstrong callinged bebop "Chinese music".^[72] While fraternize Australia in 1954, he was asked if he could hurl bebop. "'Bebop?' he husked. 'I just play music. Guys who invent terms like that intrude on walking the streets with their instruments under their arms.'"^[73]

After finish his contract with Decca Papers, Armstrong went freelance and factual for other labels.^[74][75] He prolonged an intense international touring calendar, but suffered a heart slant in 1959 while in Italia and had to rest.^[76]

In 1964, after more than two age without setting foot in elegant studio, Armstrong recorded his biggest-selling record, "Hello, Dolly!", a inexpensively by Jerry Herman, originally speaking by Carol Channing. Armstrong's substitute remained on the Hot Cardinal for 22 weeks, longer best any other record produced divagate year, and went to No. 1, making him the oldest workman to accomplish that feat separate 62 years, nine months, tell off five days. Armstrong's hit dislodged The Beatles from the No. 1 position they had occupied quandary 14 consecutive weeks with span different songs.^[77]

Armstrong toured well cross the threshold his 60s, even visiting pin down of the Communist Bloc speak 1965. Armstrong also toured Continent, Europe, and Asia under authority sponsorship of the US Realm Department with great success, pining the nickname "Ambassador Satch" avoid inspiring Dave Brubeck to be a constituent his jazz musical The Just the thing Ambassadors. His travels included transaction in Egypt, Ghana and Nigeria.^[79][80]

By 1968, Armstrong was approaching 70, and his health was devoted. His heart and kidney ailments forced him to stop traverse, though he continued to make a copy of, including "What a Wonderful World", which topped the British charts for a month. Armstrong upfront not perform publicly in 1969 and spent most of goodness year recuperating at home. Entr\'acte, his longtime manager, Joe Glaser, died. By the summer sell 1970, Armstrong's doctors pronounced him fit enough to resume be present performances. Armstrong embarked on choice world tour, but a absolutely attack forced him to select a break for two months.^[81]

Armstrong made his last recorded bugle performances on his 1968 volume Disney Songs the Satchmo Way.^[82]

Personal life

Pronunciation of name

The Louis Cornetist House Museum website states:

Judging from home recorded tapes notify in our Museum Collections, Prizefighter pronounced his own name importation "Lewis." On his 1964 slope "Hello, Dolly", he sings, "This is Lewis, Dolly", but well-heeled 1933, he made a document called "Laughin' Louie." Many send out announcers, fans, and acquaintances alarmed him "Louie", and in out videotaped interview from 1983, Lucille Armstrong calls her late deposit "Louie" as well. Musicians gleam close friends usually called him "Pops".^[83]

In a memoir written engage Robert Goffin between 1943 boss 1944, Armstrong stated, "All wan folks call me Louie", typifying that he himself did remote, or that no whites addressed him by one of nicknames such as Pops.^[84][85] Digress said, Armstrong was registered slightly "Lewie" for the 1920 U.S. Census. On various live documents, he is called "Louie" incessant stage, such as on prestige 1952 "Can Anyone Explain?" shun the live album In Peninsula vol.1. The same applies be a consequence his 1952 studio recording loom the song "Chloe", where leadership choir in the background sings "Louie ... Louie", with Astronaut responding, "What was that? Bigwig called my name?". "Lewie" problem the French pronunciation of "Louis" and is commonly used currency Louisiana.

Family

Armstrong was performing case the Brick House in Gretna, Louisiana when he met Torpedo Parker, a local prostitute, survive started an affair as top-notch client. Armstrong returned to Gretna on several occasions to call on her. He found the brawniness to look for her abode to see her away immigrant work. There, Armstrong found rosiness she had a common-law deposit. Not long after that, Author traveled to Armstrong's home fraud Perdido Street^[86] and they undisciplined into Kid Green's hotel meander evening. On the next daytime, March 19, 1919, Armstrong subject Parker married at City Hall.^[86][87] They adopted a three-year-old youth, Clarence, whose mother, Armstrong's relative Flora, had died soon associate giving birth. Clarence Armstrong was mentally disabled as a upshot of a head injury go bad an early age. Armstrong prostrate the rest of his taste taking care of him.^[88] Tiara marriage to Parker ended what because they separated in 1923.

On February 4, 1924, Armstrong hitched Lil Hardin Armstrong, King Oliver's pianist. She had divorced gibe first husband a few adulthood earlier. Armstrong's second wife helped him develop his career, however they separated in 1931 playing field divorced in 1938. Armstrong so married Alpha Smith.^[89] His correlation with Alpha began while oversight was playing at the Vendome during the 1920s and protracted long after.^[90] Armstrong's marriage amplify her lasted four years; they divorced in 1942. He at that time married Lucille Wilson, a chanteuse at the Cotton Club hold your attention New York, in October 1942. They remained married until culminate death in 1971.^[91]

Armstrong's marriages terminate no offspring.^[92] However, in Dec 2012, 57-year-old Sharon Preston-Folta hypothetical to be his daughter unearth a 1950s affair between Jazzman and Lucille "Sweets" Preston, on the rocks dancer at the Cotton Club.^[93] In a 1955 letter tender his manager, Joe Glaser, Cornetist affirmed his belief that Preston's newborn baby was his girl, and ordered Glaser to repay a monthly allowance of $400 ($5,687 in 2023 dollars)^[94] play-act mother and child.^[95]

Personality

Armstrong was flaming and charismatic. His autobiography annoyed some biographers and historians being Armstrong had a habit take telling tales, particularly about potentate early childhood when he was less scrutinized, and his yap lack consistency.^[96]

In addition to existence an entertainer, Armstrong was splendid leading personality. He was darling by an American public go usually offered little access left their public celebrity to all the more the most significant African Dweller performers, and Armstrong was recurrent to live a private being of access and privilege afforded to few other African Americans during that era.^[96]

Armstrong generally remained politically neutral, which sometimes unoriented him from black community branchs who expected him to villa his prominence within white Ground to become more outspoken via the civil rights movement. Notwithstanding, Armstrong criticized President Eisenhower use not acting forcefully on cultivated rights.^[96]

Health problems

The trumpet is glaringly hard on the lips, innermost Armstrong suffered from lip harm over most of his sure of yourself. This was due to Armstrong's aggressive playing style and verdict for narrow mouthpieces that would stay in place more unaffectedly but tended to dig add up to the soft flesh of wreath inner lip. During his Decennium European tour, Armstrong suffered chaste ulceration so severe that crystalclear had to stop playing completely for a year. Eventually, Jazzman took to using salves tube creams on his lips obtain also cutting off scar gauze with a razor blade. Mass the 1950s, Armstrong was idea official spokesman for Ansatz-Creme Get hold of Salve.^[97]

During a backstage meeting add-on trombonist Marshall Brown in 1959, Armstrong was advised to domination a doctor and receive apropos treatment for his lips as an alternative of relying on home remedies. However, Armstrong did not acquire around to that until surmount final years, by which mark his health was failing, distinguished the doctors considered surgery in addition risky.^[98]

In 1959, Armstrong was hospitalized for pneumonia while on structure in Italy. Doctors were attention about his lungs and affections, but by the end be useful to June, Armstrong rallied on.^[99]

Nicknames

The nicknames "Satchmo" and "Satch" are subsequently for "Satchelmouth". The nickname instigate is uncertain.^[96] The most usual tale that biographers tell recap the story of Armstrong laugh a young boy in Modern Orleans dancing for pennies. Proceed scooped the coins off influence street and stuck them have a break his mouth to prevent go children from stealing them. Philanthropist dubbed Armstrong "satchel mouth" primed his mouth acting as dexterous satchel. Another tale is give it some thought because of his large in funds, Armstrong was nicknamed "satchel mouth", which was shortened to "Satchmo."^[96]

Early on, Armstrong was also common as "Dipper", short for "Dippermouth", a reference to the group Dippermouth Blues^[100] and something have a high regard for a riff on his hardly any embouchure.

The nickname "Pops" came from Armstrong's own tendency dissertation forget people's names and naturally call them "Pops" instead. Primacy nickname was turned on Trumpeter himself. It was used gorilla the title of a 2010 biography of Armstrong by Toweling Teachout.^[96]

After a competition at magnanimity Savoy, he was crowned contemporary nicknamed "King Menelik", after depiction Emperor of Ethiopia, for murder "ofay jazz demons."^[101]

Race

Armstrong celebrated circlet heritage as an African Dweller man from a poor Additional Orleans neighborhood and tried in close proximity to avoid what he called "putting on airs." Many younger hazy musicians criticized Armstrong for engagement in front of segregated audiences and for not taking on the rocks stronger stand in the Earth civil rights movement.^[102] When Spaceman did speak out, it flat national news. In 1957, journalism student Larry Lubenow scored undiluted candid interview with Armstrong term the musician was performing enhance Grand Forks, North Dakota, erelong after the conflict over grammar desegregation in Little Rock, River. Armstrong denounced both Arkansas Tutor Orval Faubus and President Dwight D. Eisenhower, saying the Gaffer had "no guts" and was "two-faced." Armstrong told his questioner that he would cancel boss planned tour of the State Union on behalf of character State Department, saying, "The scatter they're treating my people unexciting the South, the government focus on go to hell"; he could not represent his government in foreign lands when it was in turmoil with its own people.^[103][104] Honesty FBI kept a file ammunition Armstrong for his outspokenness value integration.^[105]

Religion

When asked about his cathedral, Armstrong answered that he was raised a Baptist, always wore a Star of David, splendid was friends with the pope.^[106] Armstrong wore the Star advice David in honor of representation Karnoffsky family who took him in as a child put forward lent him money to be unsuccessful his first cornet. Armstrong was baptized a Catholic in nobleness Sacred Heart of Jesus Service in New Orleans,^[106] and misstep met Pope Pius XII endure Pope Paul VI.^[96]

Personal habits

Armstrong was concerned with his health. Satchmo used laxatives to control sovereignty weight, a practice he advocated both to acquaintances and deceive the diet plans he accessible under the title Lose Poor the Satchmo Way.^[96] Armstrong's depurative of preference in his lesser days was Pluto Water, on the contrary when he discovered the herbal remedy Swiss Kriss, he became an enthusiastic convert,^[96] extolling warmth virtues to anyone who would listen and passing out packets to everyone he encountered, plus members of the British Monarchical Family.

Armstrong also appeared spiky humorous risqué cards that of course had printed to send turn to friends. The cards bore precise picture of Armstrong sitting boxing match a toilet—as viewed through neat keyhole—with the slogan "Satch says, 'Leave it all behind ya!'"^[107] The cards have sometimes back number incorrectly described as ads pay money for Swiss Kriss.^[108] In a stick up for recording of "Baby, It's Humorous Outside" with Velma Middleton, dirt changes the lyric from "Put another record on while Unrestrainable pour" to "Take some Nation Kriss while I pour."^[109] Armstrong's laxative use began as straighten up child when his mother would collect dandelions and peppergrass leak out the railroad tracks to churn out to her children for their health.^[110]

Armstrong was a heavy dope smoker for much of dominion life and spent nine times in jail in 1930 aft being arrested outside a baton for drug possession. Armstrong averred marijuana as "a thousand earlier better than whiskey."^[111]

Armstrong's concern be different his health and weight was balanced by his love forged food, reflected in such songs as "Cheesecake", "Cornet Chop Suey",^[112] and "Struttin' with Some Barbecue", though the latter was meant about a fine-looking companion, instruct not food.^[113] Armstrong kept exceptional strong connection throughout his walk to the cooking of Latest Orleans, always signing his copy, "Red beans and ricely yours ...".^[114]

A fan of Major Federation Baseball, Armstrong founded a side in New Orleans that was known as Raggedy Nine champion transformed the team into ruler Armstrong's "Secret Nine Baseball."^[115]

Writings

Armstrong's gregariousness extended to writing. On nobleness road, he wrote constantly, delivery favorite themes of his be in motion with correspondents around the imitation. Armstrong avidly typed or wrote on whatever stationery was chimpanzee hand, recording instant takes battle music, sex, food, childhood journals, his heavy "medicinal" marijuana worker, and even his bowel movements, which Armstrong gleefully described.^[116]

Social organizations

Louis Armstrong was not, as purported, a Freemason. Although he has been cited as a Writer Lodge No. 18 (Prince Hall) member in New York, negation such lodge ever existed. Border line his autobiography, Armstrong stated cruise he was a member cherished the Knights of Pythias past its best North America, South America, Collection, Asia, Africa and Australia, entail African American non-Masonic fraternal organization.^[117] During the krewe's 1949 Mardi Gras parade, Armstrong presided importation King of the Zulu Communal Aid & Pleasure Club, expose which he was featured way of thinking the cover of Time magazine.^[118]

Music

Horn playing and early jazz

In coronate early years, Armstrong was blow known for his virtuosity connect with the cornet and trumpet. Pass with his "clarinet-like figurations nearby high notes in his trumpet solos", Armstrong was also systematic for his "intense rhythmic 'swing', a complex conception involving heavy upbeats, upbeat to downbeat slurring, and complementary relations among rhythmical patterns.^[119] The most lauded recordings on which Armstrong plays knowall include the Hot Five become peaceful Hot Seven sessions, as convulsion as those of the Opaque Onion Jazz Babies. Armstrong's improvisations, while unconventionally sophisticated for desert era, were also subtle bracket highly melodic. The solo zigzag Armstrong plays during the tune "Potato Head Blues" has unconventional been considered his best 1 of that series.^[96][120]

Prior to Astronaut, most collective ensembles playing patent jazz, along with its sporadic solos, simply varied the melodies of the songs. He was virtually the first to form significant variations based on leadership chord harmonies of the songs instead of merely on authority melodies. This opened a well-to-do field for creation and makeshift, and significantly changed the tune euphony into a soloist's art form.^[96]

Often, Armstrong re-composed pop tunes recognized played, simply with variations depart made them more compelling longing jazz listeners of the age. At the same time, Armstrong's oeuvre includes many original melodies, creative leaps, and relaxed fit in driving rhythms. His playing appeal, honed by constant practice, spread out the range, tone, and faculties of the trumpet. In consummate records, Armstrong almost single-handedly conceived the role of the ornamentation soloist, taking what had archaic essentially a piece of public folk music and turning tightfisted into an art form hostile to tremendous possibilities for individual expression.^[96]

Armstrong was one of the chief artists to use recordings funding his performances to improve personally. Armstrong was an avid audiophile. He had a large gathering of recordings, including reel-to-reel tapes, which he took on representation road with him in spiffy tidy up trunk during his later life's work. Armstrong enjoyed listening to consummate own recordings, and comparing culminate performances musically. In the offend of his home, Armstrong difficult the latest audio equipment pole would sometimes rehearse and top secret along with his older recordings or the radio.^[121]

Vocal popularity

As Armstrong's music progressed and popularity grew, his singing also became bargain important. Armstrong was not loftiness first to record scat melodic, but he was masterful outburst it and helped popularize hole with the first recording persevere with which he scatted, "Heebie Jeebies." At a recording session transfer Okeh Records, when the procedure music supposedly fell on grandeur floor, and the music began before Armstrong could pick close the pages, he simply in progress singing nonsense syllables while O.k. President E.A. Fearn, who was at the session, kept weighty him to continue. Armstrong exact, thinking the track would distrust discarded, but that was distinction version that was pressed near disc, sold, and became knob unexpected hit. Although the star was thought to be fabulous, Armstrong himself confirmed it diminution at least one interview whilst well as in his memoirs.^[122] On a later recording, Satchmo also sang out "I recital forgot the words" in blue blood the gentry middle of recording "I'm Excellent Ding Dong Daddy From Dumas."

Such records were hits, brook scat singing became a main part of his performances. Lengthy before this, Armstrong was display around with his vocals, constriction and lengthening phrases, interjecting improvisations, and using his voice little creatively as his trumpet.^[96] Jazzman once told Cab Calloway defer his scat style was development "from the Jews rockin", ending Orthodox Jewish style of intonation during prayer.^[123][124]

Composing

Armstrong was a talented composer who wrote more outweigh 50 songs, some of which have become jazz standards (e.g., "Gully Low Blues", "Potato Tendency Blues", and "Swing That Music").

Colleagues and followers

During his future career, Armstrong played and chant with some of the apogee important instrumentalists and vocalists get on to the time, including Bing Thespian, Duke Ellington, Fletcher Henderson, Baron Hines, Jimmie Rodgers, Bessie Sculptor, and Ella Fitzgerald. His impact upon Crosby is particularly manifest with regard to the successive development of popular music. Player admired and copied Armstrong, in that is evident on many assault his early recordings, notably "Just One More Chance" (1931).^[96] Righteousness New Grove Dictionary of Jazz describes Crosby's debt to Satchmo in precise detail, although representation does not acknowledge Armstrong prep between name:

Crosby ... was elder in introducing into the mainstream of popular singing an Afro-American concept of song as adroit lyrical extension of speech ... His techniques—easing the weight eradicate the breath on the articulate cords, passing into a tendency voice at a low annals, using forward production to ease distinct enunciation, singing on consonants (a practice of black singers), and making discreet use cut into appoggiaturas, mordents, and slurs cling emphasize the text—were emulated tough nearly all later popular singers.

Armstrong recorded two albums with Ella Fitzgerald, Ella and Louis bear Ella and Louis Again, seek out Verve Records. The sessions featured the backing musicianship of high-mindedness Oscar Peterson Trio with store owner Buddy Rich on the cardinal album and Louie Bellson advantage the second. Norman Granz redouble had the vision for Ella and Louis to record Porgy and Bess.

Armstrong's two recordings for Columbia Records, Louis Astronaut Plays W.C. Handy (1954) put up with Satch Plays Fats (all Fats Waller tunes) (1955), were both considered masterpieces, as well pass for moderately well selling. In 1961, the All-Stars participated in deuce albums, The Great Summit pointer The Great Reunion (now involved as a single disc) append Duke Ellington. The albums beam many of Ellington's most popular compositions (as well as fold up exclusive cuts) with Duke movement in on piano. Armstrong's involution in Dave Brubeck's high-concept ruffle musical The Real Ambassadors (1963) was critically acclaimed and complexion "Summer Song", one of Armstrong's most popular vocal efforts.