Today, August 4th, is the birthday of Louis Armstrong, one of the most influential and iconic jazz musicians of the 20th century. The adaptation above and his portrait on the musical reference work/birthday calendar below are made by me, Frieke.
Louis Armstrong was born on August 4, 1901, in New Orleans, Louisiana, and died on July 6, 1971, in New York City, New York. Armstrong grew up in a poor family in New Orleans. His father left the family when Armstrong was still young, and his mother was often absent due to work. He was raised by his grandmother and lived in a neighborhood known for its vibrant musical culture. At a young age, Armstrong was sent to the Colored Waif's Home for Boys after an incident with a gun. There, he began playing the cornet and received formal music lessons. In 1922, Armstrong was invited by his mentor King Oliver to join his Creole Jazz Band in Chicago. This was a turning point in his career.
In 1925, Louis Armstrong founded the Hot Five. In 1927, he expanded the Hot Five into the Hot Seven. With these bands, he popularized solo improvisation within jazz as a trumpeter and introduced the so-called scat singing (a vocal improvisation technique where words are replaced by meaningless syllables). With the Hot Five and Seven, he recorded groundbreaking tracks such as West End Blues - Potato Head Blues which are still considered classics.
In 1947, Armstrong formed the All Stars, a small group consisting of some of the best jazz musicians of the time, such as trombonist Jack Teagarden and clarinetist Barney Bigard. With this group, he toured worldwide. Their performances were famous for their energy and virtuosity. Some of their most well-known songs are St. Louis Blues - On the Sunny Side of the Street en When It's Sleepy Time Down South .
During a tour in Europe, Armstrong received the nickname Satchmo, short for Satchelmouth, referring to his large mouth. The nickname became popular after an English journalist noted it during Armstrong's tour in 1932. Armstrong liked the nickname and decided to embrace it. The nickname "Pop" was given to Armstrong by younger musicians due to his fatherly attitude and mentor role within the jazz community. This nickname reflected the respect and affection they had for him.
Louis Armstrong's work with big bands, his film and television appearances, and his musical innovations made him one of the most beloved and influential figures in jazz music history. Some of his most cherished and iconic songs are A Kiss to Build a Dream On - Hello, Dolly en What a Wonderful World. perhaps the most iconic song of Armstrong's later career. It became a huge hit worldwide and is still loved.
Louis Armstrong continued to perform until his death on July 6, 1971. He was a pioneer in jazz music. His unique style, technical mastery, and unmatched charisma made him one of the greatest musical icons of the 20th century.
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