Louis Armstrong - Facts, Events, Innovations

Early Years

Unwed mother, delivered coal to prostitutes, sent to New Orleans Colored Waif’s Home for Boys and learned trumpet, apprenticed with Joe “King” Oliver.

Beginning of Career

Replaced Oliver and joined Kid Ory, Worked on Steamboat, Joined Oliver in Chicago, really began to solo with Henderson

List 5 of Armstrong’s Primary Jazz Innovations

1. Blues

2. Improv

3. Singing

4. Repertory

5. Rhythm

Blues Innovation

He established the blues as the harmonic foundation for jazz

Improv Innovation

Was such a good player with emotion and an individual sound, groups began to let him solo, and soloists like him became a desired feature in many ensembles. Established jazz as a music that rewards individual expression, and that improv could have the same value as written music.

Singing Innovation

Created and introduced scat singing as a jazz vocal style

Repertory Innovation

Played a variety of songs, no matter the popularity or authenticity, broadening the scope of jazz musically and commercially.

Rhythm Innovation

Brought swinging to mainstream jazz

Hot Five and Hot Seven

A group with which Armstrong recorded 65 of some of the most important records in jazz’s development (1925-1929). Eventually included Earl Hines. Marked and codified aspects of how jazz was to be played:

1. Change from polyphony to solos

2. embellishments to true improv

3. breaks to full chorus solos

4. Moving away from ragtime strains to blues or popular song choruses

Work for Civil Rights

Armstrong’s personality helped reverse stereotype that jazz was primitive or degenerate. Opened up an art form to listeners and musicians of any background. Starred in demeaning movies, but still subverted stereotypes with his professionalism.

Titles

Most important figure in jazz history, one of the only figures to influence music of his era equally as a vocalist and instrumentalist. “Ambassador of Good Will.”

Late Years

For latter part of life led Louis Armstrong and His All Stars. Despite controversy due to speaking out about civil rights, remained beloved national treasure, still met with much success for many records, performances, and other appearances.