Music, it helps the world go ‘round. Whatever kind of music you like, how often you listen to it, it's all up to you. Most likely, you will enjoy many different genres. Often times, it helps you express yourself beyond speech. And like the French poet Victor Hugo said, “ music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that cannot remain silent.” This form of expression often helped people of the 20’s and 30’s through dark times just as it does for us today. During the 20’s and 30’s, America was going through rough events such as the Great Depression. Music was a great way to, even for a slight period of time, escape all the problems going on and just relax. Music was so popular because anyone could enjoy it. Male, female, and children …show more content…
It's a genre not only known for its unique sound but also the inspiring people who constructed the specific sound. Two of these important singer/songwriters were Emmett Miller and Louis Armstrong. Many people enjoyed the sound that Emmett Miller produced. Riverfront Times, an online news feed from St. Louis, even felt he had a “one-of-a-kind voice.” Though little is truly known about his years growing up, Miller was thought to have started performing in his early twenties. From there, he gradually moved into a jazz band called “The Georgia Crackers”. His band, accompanied by Tommy Dorsey, Jimmy Dorsey, Gene Krupa, and Eddie Lang, rose to success as many people attracted to their sound while dealing with the Great Depression. Another rising artist during this time was Louis Armstrong. Though he grew up in the rougher areas of New Orleans, Armstrong made it to the top with his “exciting and innovative style of playing that musicians still imitate to this day” (PBS Biography). Mentored by professional trumpet player Joe “King” Oliver, he had no problem gaining popularity in the music industry. By his mid-to-late twenties, Armstrong already made his first recordings and had appeared on Broadway several times. Just like Miller, Louis Armstrong made jazz history, all within a matter of a few decades. The next genre to hit the charts was the ever-so influential style of …show more content…
And though there were many great blues musicians, two stood out the most. These two artists were Bessie Smith and Blind Lemon Jefferson. Bessie Smith, or as most called her, Empress of the Blues, was “unquestionably the greatest female blues singer...of the 1920’s and 30’s” as stated by PBS. Everywhere you went, someone was talking about Bessie Smith. She didn’t start out that way though. As a child, Smith and her brother took to performing on the streets to help their family’s income. Unlike Miller and Armstrong, Smith’s career didn’t fully take off until her early-to-mid thirties. Nevertheless, Smith’s career skyrocketed and is still being acknowledged to this day. Along with Smith, a man referred to as Blind Lemon Jefferson began gaining popularity during this time. Like his name suggests, Jefferson was infact blind. This didn’t stop him from getting where he wanted to go through music. At the young age of only 18, Jefferson met up with the famous Huddie Ledbetter, more commonly known as “Lead Belly”. At this point, Ledbetter became partners with Jefferson and eventually the two scored a contract with Paramount Records (Jefferson, Blind Lemon). From there, Jefferson’s career flourished, resulting in him becoming a legacy in the making, just like Bessie Smith. Both Jefferson and Smith’s approach towards Blues helped shape the way the genre was accepted into
Knocking the Beatles out of the number one spot on the Billboards in 1964, Louis Armstrong became of the most recognized Jazz musicians of his time. The famous performer wasn’t always living the high life as his childhood was quite grueling. Yet, he didn’t let it stop him from working his way up in the music business, and leaving a lasting impression on music. Louis Armstrong’s struggles in his childhood paved the way to his successful career of playing trumpet and singing to audiences worldwide, while leaving his mark on Jazz music’s style which still lives on today.
Aside from the typical cultural, social, and political factors influencing any musician’s style, an early life filled with poverty and hardship also shaped Louis Armstrong’s musical development. Some even theorize that it was Armstrong’s difficult upbringing that made his music so wise, so unique, and so revolutionary. Armstrong was an African American child growing up in the slums of New Orleans, close to abandonment, impoverished, and with too few constant people, resources, or homes. However, had his upbringing been different, his musical talents may never have been established to grow and thrive into one of the most internationally influential jazz musicians ever. When Louis Armstrong was placed in a boys’ home as a young boy, he was presented with the opportunity to play the cornet. He took up work in Joe (King) Oliver’s house, doing chores in exchange for musical lessons, developing into a
Many people knew Louis Armstrong as the “first real genius of jazz”(Shipton 26). He was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on August 4, 1901. Louis was the illegitimate son of William Armstrong and Mary Est “Mayann” Albert. He was abandoned by his father, a boiler stoker, shortly after his birth and was raised by his paternal grandmother. Then, at the age of five, he was returned to the care of his mother, who at the time worked as a laundress. Together with his mom, they moved to a better area of New Orleans. This is where Armstrong first fell in love with music; he would listen to people playing any chance that he would get(Tirro). He would attend parades, funerals, churches and go to cheap cabarets to be able to hear some of the greats play
To begin, Louis Armstrong was a gifted African American musician and entertainer. Armstrong introduced jazz music to the world as well as created his own pieces of music, setting a high bar for fledged musicians. Many remember him as the “Father of Jazz” (Ginny Holland, 2004). Some of Armstrong’s most memorable pieces are “What a Wonderful World,” “When the Saints Go Marching In,” “Go Down Moses,” and several others. He worked with big bands in Chicago pubs/theaters during the 1920s, and later on began to play in fancy, high class restaurants. Louis Armstrong was actually the first African
At the beginning, music has and always will be an important thing in my life. When I am on a road trip or am doing something that takes an extended period of time, I know I can turn on Spotify and drift into my own world. Also, if I ever feel perturbed or dejected, I can listen to my favorite album and feel great again. Third, music helps me prepare for activities such as football games or school. Lastly, music assists me whenever I’m working on something such as homework or a project for school.
Music had a great impact on my secondary socialization during my second decade. It had an impact on my Self Socialization as well. Music in my peer groups reflected in my choice of listening preference. I began to formulate who I was outside of my parents and other family. I formed friendships with others my age with different interests that showed me there was even more to explore in life. During this time mass media was changing and cable television was becoming popular. Along with cable, MTV was brand new. Yes, I was an original MTV viewer. MTV brought music even more into view in my life. My television stayed tuned to MTV. I awoke and went to sleep listening to the popular music of the day. It was the ‘80’s. Music favorites then were
Jazz music is a very influential genre of music. It was originated it only one city, and was quickly able to spread all around the country, and later all around the world. Louis Armstrong was on of the most well known jazz musicians, and shaped it for many others to follow.
Louis Satchelmouth Armstrong, an inventor of new style jazz and revolutionary artist noted as one of the greatest men not only in the Jazz music development, but also what Duke Ellington called as “a truly god and original man.” (DeVeaux, pp.140) Louis was known as the most notable colored-skin musician in 1920’s in North America due to his skill of modification in music. His contribution in Jazz later-on in his career was broader used as an effective advocate for racial tolerance and equality in the USA and all over the world.
Louis was born in New Orleans where he grew up and learned to play the trumpet. He also learned to sing. Because of his long improvised solos, he inspired jazz so that long solos became an important part of jazz pieces and performances. (Cayton, 462) Armstrong was the king of jazz trumpet players. The new style that he created gave a voice-like quality to his horn. (Hakim, 58) Although Jazz was very popular itself, a majority of the fans and listeners were younger people. Flappers were commonly known during this time. They danced to the jazz music with a whole new style.
Nps.gov states that some of the greatest musician in America History has come from the jazz side of the world. Artist such as Louis Armstrong, Billy Holiday and Jelly “Roll” Morton, pave the way for jazz to reach its height as it did in the early 20’s with the upbeat tempo and smooth classical sound. These artist brung a unique sound to jazz that was not there. Louis Armstrong contribute to jazz is so remarkable, he played the trumpet like no other. His sound was so soothing to the ears. When you think about jazz, Louis Armstrong is one of the first names most people relate to jazz. Jelly “Roll” Morton was probably the most influence artist there is. An innovative piano stylist and composer, began his odyssey outside of New Orleans as early as 1907. He continue his work throughout the 1920’s and was mainly consider the reason of the swing era.
In 1920 Armstrong encountered Earl Hines, Hines like Armstrong was a soloist who was interested in reshaping the way traditional Jazz was played, their duet on Weatherbird is a perfect example of the type of Jazz he was trying to create and was a milestone recording from the 1920s. Armstrong also had a profound impact on the genre of Jazz singing also known as scat- singing. Armstrong was not the first to incorporate scat-singing into his song but he did popularized the style. Given his powerful influence in the Jazz community and the certain rough and gritty tenderness that he brought to the style made it stand
Bessie smith was another good musician I call her the queen of blues. Bessie Smith was born on April 15, 1894 in Chattanooga, Tennessee. She was one of seven children. Her father, a Baptist minister, died soon after her birth, leaving her mother to raise her and her siblings. Around 1906, her mother and two of her brothers died and Smith and her remaining siblings were raised by their aunt. It was around this time that Smith began to perform as a street singer, accompanied on the guitar by one of her younger brothers. Then soon she started writing more music and was the one of the best in that period of time.The background of blues music. Sometime around 1890, the blues emerged as the distinct African-American art form, rooted in the southern U.S. and drawing on work songs and hollers, folk tradition, black spirituals, and the popular music of the time. Looking back from 1890, one can speculate about the African influence in the musical structure of the blues
Music has been known throughout time. It can help us through everything. There are so many solutions with music to help a person go through so many situations. Music can affect many people in many different ways. Without music some people would be lost and would have no motivation. Music can provide inspiration and insight through education. Music has influence on suicides, killings and shootings, and provocative actions. It can also influence good morals, respect, allowing differences, health, and much more. Music can come in many forms and categories and music is very good for the world.
The second generations of Jazz musicians were some like Joe “King” Oliver, Kid Ory, and Jelly Roll Morton. These people formed a small band and started to reshape the way the original Jazz music was played. They have made it into a different style with more complications and twists and turns. And so it became known as “Hot Jazz”. King Oliver found a young artist by the name of Louis Armstrong. He soon grew to become the greatest Jazz musician anyone has known. He is still a big star in the world today. By the 20th Century, African-American musical styles became the dominant force.
When people say "music saved my life," they are saying they found themselves once to be weak and eventually found strength through music. You can find yourself alone in the life you live but when you listen to music you realize you'll never be alone. I believe music gives people a sense of hope that they don't have to feel like they're the only one's going through things. Music can express more than words and it gives people a constant when their world seems to be chaotic. It's something some people need in their life and to be who they are and go on day by day.