Louis Armstrong
Biography
Louis Daniel Armstrong (August 4, 1901 – July 6, 1971), nicknamed "Satchmo," "Satch," or "Pops," was an American trumpeter and vocalist who was one of the most influential figures in jazz. His career spanned five decades and different eras in the history of jazz. Armstrong was born and raised in New Orleans. Coming to prominence in the 1920s as an inventive trumpet and cornet player, he was a foundational influence in jazz, shifting the focus of the music from collective improvisation to solo performance.
Early Life
Armstrong was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on August 4, 1901. He grew up in a dangerous neighborhood known as "The Battlefield." He had a fifth-grade education, dropping out of school to work. A job with the Karnofsky family allowed him to purchase his first cornet. On New Year's Eve 1912, he was arrested for firing a blank from his stepfather's gun and sent to the Colored Waif's Home for Boys. There, he received his first formal music training from Peter Davis and learned to play the cornet, eventually leading the home's brass band. Released in 1914, he was mentored by the city's top cornetist, Joe "King" Oliver.
Career
Chicago and New York
In 1922, Armstrong was invited by his mentor, Joe "King" Oliver, to join his Creole Jazz Band in Chicago. His fame grew, and he moved to New York City to play with the Fletcher Henderson Orchestra. This move was encouraged by his second wife, Lil Hardin Armstrong, a pianist in Oliver's band whom he married in 1924. After a year in New York, Armstrong returned to Chicago in 1925 and began making recordings under his own name.
The Hot Five and Hot Seven Recordings
Between 1925 and 1928, Armstrong made a series of recordings with his groups, the Hot Five and Hot Seven. These recordings are considered masterpieces of the later New Orleans style and include classics like "Struttin' with Some Barbeque," "Potato Head Blues," and "Cornet Chop Suey". These sessions showcased his transition from cornet to the brighter-sounding trumpet and are credited with shifting the focus of jazz from a collective style to a soloist's art. The recordings also feature some of the earliest examples of scat singing, a style Armstrong helped popularize.
A Cultural Ambassador
By the 1930s, Armstrong had become a popular figure on radio, in films, and through his recordings. He began fronting a big band and touring extensively, earning the nickname "Ambassador Satch" for his international tours. He appeared in over thirty films and was a frequent guest on television. In 1947, he formed Louis Armstrong and His All Stars, a smaller group that became his main performing vehicle for the rest of his life. He recorded hit songs for five decades, including "Hello, Dolly!", "Mack the Knife", and "What a Wonderful World".
Collaborations and Influence
Ella Fitzgerald
Armstrong recorded three official albums with vocalist Ella Fitzgerald: "Ella and Louis" (1956), "Ella and Louis Again" (1957), and "Porgy and Bess" (1959). These albums were both critically and commercially successful, showcasing the unique chemistry between Fitzgerald's smooth voice and Armstrong's gravelly tone.
Legacy
Louis Armstrong is widely regarded as one of the most important figures in the history of American music. He was a key figure in the development of swing music and was a pioneer in making the soloist the central focus of jazz performance. His innovative trumpet playing and distinctive vocal style influenced countless musicians who came after him. Armstrong died of a heart attack in his home in Corona, Queens, New York City on July 6, 1971.