Meghan Walls

12/5/16
MUSE 250
Brass Artist Research Project
Louis Armstrong
Trumpeter, singer, and man leader, Louis Armstrong was on of the pioneering figures in
the jazz era. He helped bring jazz into popularity, and still remains one of the most well-known
jazz musicians of our time. He popularized a number of standard jazz tunes, including What a
Wonderful World. His vivacious personality, varied musicianship, and his ability to perform sets
him apart even now as a fantastic entertainer.
Born on August 4, 1901 in New Orleans, Armstrongs home life was rather troubled. His
father left him and his mother after he was born, leaving Armstrong in the care of his
grandparents. He often sang in a quartet in order to earn money to help his family. His first
exposure to the cornet came when he was sent to the Colored Waifs Home for a minor offense.
Here he was given lessons on the cornet and was able to play in the schools band (Anderson).
According to Grove Music Online, the home was a place of refuge for him, where he had
structure and a place to listen to and enjoy music. He continued to pursue music after being
released from the school, often playing in clubs to earn money and expand his career.
In 1922 he moved to Chicago to play for his long time mentor and teacher King Oliver in
Olivers Creole Jazz Band. Armstrongs career grew from there. After he divorced his first wife,
Armstrong married Lil Hardin who encouraged him to join Fletcher Hendersons dance band in
New York City (Anderson). Armstrong became a pivotal figure in changing the sound of the
band. His swinging solos quickly found their way into the rest of the bands music transforming

them into a big band (Bio.com). However, the couple shortly afterwards moved back to Chicago,
where from 1925-1928, he recording a series music with his own group called the Hot Fives and
the Hot Sevens (Anderson). The recordings he created with these groups are some of the most
influential in the jazz world. Armstrongs ability as a soloist shifted the focus of jazz from an
ensemble to the soloist (Bio.com).
The Hot Five began to perform at the Savoy Ballroom in Chicago. The song West End
Blues from one of their recordings helped to define genre even further. In 1929, Armstrong
debuted in Broadway with the show Hot Chocolates. This show helped place him even more in
the public eye.
In the 30s Armstrong worked and recorded mostly with big bands. His music changed to.
He left the small band repertoire in favor for show tunes , ballades and other novelty songs
(Visser 2001). Armstrong also appeared in a number of movies and toured Europe. However,
once he returned from his tour, he hit a rather low point. Armstrong hired a new manager, Joe
Glaser, who had been the manager when he played at the Sunset Caf. Glaser was able to sign
him on with Decca Records with a new big band (Bio.com). He continued with Decca into the
50s, but scaling back the size of his band as Jazz began to move from Big Band Swing to smaller
combos.
In 1967, Armstrong recorded What a Wonderful World. In became the number one hit
worldwide and featured in Good Morning, Vietnam. It is still arguably Armstrongs most
endearing tune, remembered by audiences everywhere. Armstrong continued to play up to the
end of his life. He continued to tour, practice and record until he died in his sleep July 6, 1971.

Louis Armstrong on the cover of Life magazine. He was the

first African-American jazz musician to be featured on the
cover.

References
Louis Armstrong Biography. (2016, May 20). Retrieved December 6, 2016 from
http://www.biography.com/people/louis-armstrong-9188912.
Gene H. Anderson. "Armstrong, Louis." Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online. Oxford
University Press. Web. 6 Dec.
2016.<http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/subscriber/article/grove/music/A2248099>.
Viser, Joop, liner notes to Lous Armstrong Cest Ci Bon: Satchmo in the Forties, Louis
Armstrong, Proper Records Ltd., 24. CD. 2001.
Discography
Louis Armstrong And His Hot Five
February 26, 1926, Chicago Illinois
Georgia Grind