Louis Armstrong Research Paper

Louis Armstrong was the greatest of all Jazz musicians. Armstrong defined what it was to play Jazz. His amazing technical abilities, the joy and spontaneity, and amazingly quick, inventive musical mind still dominate Jazz to this day. Only Charlie Parker comes close to having as much influence on the history of Jazz as Louis Armstrong did. Like almost all early Jazz musicians, Louis was from New Orleans. He was from a very poor family and was sent to reform school when he was twelve after firing a gun in the air on New Year's Eve. At the school he learned to play cornet. After being released at age fourteen, he worked selling papers, unloading boats, and selling coal from a cart. He didn't own an instrument at this time,

Louis Armstrong's diversity and adaptability is widely recognized as one of the most influential aspect in jazz music. Louis Armstrong's musical influence is still the fundamental base for modern jazz today. "Louis Armstrong is jazz. He represents what the music is all about.” — Wynton Marsalis perfectly sums up his contributions. His diversity sets him apart from other jazz artists because he managed to stay relevant throughout different musical eras like, the ENOJ era, The Swing Era, Blues etc., until the end of his career. The accomplishments he has achieved throughout his life and the hardships he has gone through has shaped his persona, contributing to how he will become as an artist. His instrumental style, singing, career throughout musical eras, accomplishments, and etc., contribute to how adaptable and diverse he is.

A photographer was also present and a picture was taken of Armstrong while he was shaving, as he was getting ready for a gig. The following day Armstrong's words and picture made front page news around the world. Though he had finally spoken out after years of remaining publicly silent, he received criticism at the time from both black and white public figures. Other people of colour musicians such as Sammy Davis Junior said not to listen to Armstrong as he did not represent the black community. Although Armstrong experienced racism and segregation he was not treated as harshly compared to other people of colour musicians at this time. This greatly upset Louis Armstrong the most as he felt he had done so much for his own race and that he had never been appreciated for it. It wasn’t until Armstrong’s death that he was credited for his work in helping the civil rights movement. Today, this is seen as one of the bravest moments of Armstrong's

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

Louis Armstrong was born on August 4th 1901 in New Orleans, Louisiana. His grandmother had raised him mostly because his father abandoned the family soon after he was born, and his mother had turned to prostitution. Armstrong left school in the fifth grade and began working. The Karnofsky’s gave young Armstrong a job collecting junk and delivering coal. They encouraged him to sing and often times would invite him into their home for meals.

Louis Daniel Armstrong, “the world’s greatest trumpeter,” once said, “Music is my life and I live to play.” Armstrong dedicated half of his life trying to be the best trumpet player and vocalist he could be. When he was younger times were rough, but he fought through it by playing the cornet. As Louis got better and older he started Scat singing and creating records. By the end of his career he had changed Jazz history for the better. I think Louis Armstrong was a determined man and deserved the recognition he got. Considering that he grew up in a poverty-ridden section of New Orleans, he continued to follow his dream.

Louis Daniel Armstrong (August 4, 1901 - July 6, 1971) grew up in a poor neighborhood nicknamed “The Battlefield” in New Orleans, Louisiana. His mother, Mayann, was 15 years old when he was born and his father, Willie, abandoned them soon after. “Willie’s habit of devoting all his attention to his second family, and none to him, was always a source of great pain to Louis” (Bergreen 16). Mayann turned to prostitution and Armstrong was raised by his Grandmother. He dropped out of school in the fifth grade to help support the family by singing on street corners, selling newspapers, and delivering coal.

Upon release from the home one year later, he frequently played in parade bands and began touring with Fate Marable where he learned the ropes of the business. His success from then on sky rocketed and included playing along side big name musicians in orchestras and bands. He often reflected upon his rough childhood and drew inspiration from it, perhaps the root of the attitude, feel and expression of his unique sound. His domination and success of the jazz scene can also be seen as a function of time and place as he grew up in the heart center of the evolution of jazz music at the time. Armstrong remained on top all throughout his life until his death on July 6th 1971.

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

He would then settle down in Queens, NY. At this time, he had various physical problems with his fingers and lips due to his very odd playing style that he is well known for. He then realized that he was the driving force that made jazz popular around the country of the United Sates of America. An article stated that,“Armstrong's success with the public was made possible by the confluence of many forces…Particularly important is the fact that during his time jazz was becoming an integral part of popular culture through radio, recordings, and movies” (Berrett 239). These media outlets are also the main reason why jazz grew to be popular so that everyone can hear and appreciate how amazing Armstrong was as a pioneer of jazz.

On New Years Eve, 1912, Louis Armstrong was celebrating the New Year with his family. At midnight he fired off a round of gunshot, and was immediately arrested for firing a gun. He was sent to Colored Waif's Home for Boys. It was here that he was encouraged to refine his cornet skills and take

Louis Armstrong is a native of New Orleans, hailing from a neighborhood known as “The Battlefield” due to its poverty and high crime rate. Crawford and Hamberlin (2017), point out that his father left the family while he was very young, while his mother resorted to prostitution when needed to pay bills. Wood (2017) shares that

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 Armstrong’s influence in early Jazz Louis Armstrong is often referred to as the “Father of Jazz” (Yanow, 2016) Louis Armstrong was born on August 4th, 1901 in New Orleans, Louisiana in an impoverished neighborhood that was nicknamed the “battlefield” because the neighborhood was so poor (Yanow, 2016). When Louis was young, he shot a gun at his father’s new year’s eve party and where he was arrested. He was sent to a group home for boys called the “Colored Waif’s home for boys”, he received music instruction there and that’s where he found his love for music. Louis Armstrong’s fluent style of improvisation, scatting and the depth to his music laid a foundation set a new standard for generations of Jazz artists after his time.

Louis Armstrong was born on August 4th, 1901 in the city of New Orleans. However, there were complications with his birth certificate and he originally believed his birthday was the 4th of July, as “it was the custom for poor blacks to adopt an honorary date as their birthday – often Christmas, or New Year’s Day, or the Fourth of July.” The difficulties did not end there, he had a very difficult childhood because his father abandoned him right