Louis Armstrong Outline

Jazz has shaped the world we know today. Jazz would have never been as popular without the help of the famous musicians: Jelly Roll Morton, Joe King Oliver, Sidney Bechet, Louis Armstrong, and Duke Ellington. These people helped spread the new genre through radio, railroads, and the records that they played. Where did this all start? The jazz age began in New Orleans where a certain King was born.

Louis Armstrong, universally known as Satchmo, was born into extreme poverty in August, 1901 in New Orleans, Louisiana. His first contact with music was in a reformatory for abandoned children when he was admitted to the band for good behavior. Soon he learned to play the bugle, clarinet, horn, and began to familiarize himself with the trumpet from the informal lessons he received from jazz musician King Oliver. He never had a real music lesson and, until seventeen years old, lacked the money to buy his own musical instrument. Even though Armstrong did not learn to read music until he was over twenty, he was a musical genius and his talents were groundbreaking.

Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington was a phenomenal bandleader and composer, who rose to fame by pioneering jazz, a style of music that has stood the test of time today. It is evident that the theme of the biography, “Duke Ellington: Bandleader and Composer,” written by Ron Frankl, is that Duke Ellington has left behind with him a long lasting legacy on the musical style of jazz.

While in New York, Armstrong made dozens of records as a sideman, creating inspirational jazz and backup singing for many blues singers. Moreover, he had records as a soloist including "Cornet Chop Suey" and "Potato Head Blues." These solos changed jazz history, by incorporating daring rhythm choices, swing and high notes on cornet(Source B). Furthermore, in 1926, Armstrong finally switched from the cornet to the trumpet. After 1926, Louis became more and more famous and broke more and more barriers through his music. In 1936, Armstrong became the first African American to be featured in a Hollywood movie and to write an autobiography. Also, in 1937 he was the first African American to be on a sponsored radio broadcast. Moreover, he performed at hotels that didn't allow African Americans to stay, and he had contracts that no other African American had in the 1930s (Source A).

Armstrong was born August 4,1901 in New Orleans. The section where Armstrong was born was so poor it was nicknamed “The Battlefield”. In 1912 Armstrong was sent to the New Orleans Home for Colored Waifs for shooting a gun in the air to celebrate New Year’s Eve. There he received musical instruction on how to play the cornet. Soon Armstrong learned that he loved music and started getting his reputation as one of the finest blues players.

Louis Armstrong was a pivotal musician in the twentieth century, but it was his contributions and his role he made during the Harlem Renaissance movement that is most substantial. Armstrong was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1901, even though he sometimes said later in his life that he was born on July 4, 1900. He was raised by his mother and grandmother after his father, who was a factory worker, left the family while Armstrong was still a child. His family was very poor, and as a child Armstrong worked many odd jobs to help support the family. Armstrong was surrounded by music while working and playing in the streets of New Orleans. Since he could not afford an instrument, he learned to sing and joined a vocal quartet that sang on street corners for a little extra money. After shooting a gun on New Year’s Eve, Armstrong was arrested and was sent to a juvenile detention center. There he met Peter Davis, the music instructor at the juvenile center.

Jazz was born in New Orleans about 100 years ago (early 20th century), but its roots can be found in the musical traditions of both Africa and Europe. In fact, some people say that jazz is a union of African and European music.

Jazz is most often thought to have been started in the 1920s as this explosive movement, but that is in fact not the case. Starting in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century many African American musicians have started to explore their taste in improvising, and where better to do that than New Orleans (Anderson). Before the 1920s these jazz musicians have already been going around sharing the unique sound, but up until then, jazz had remained majorly in New Orleans. Interestingly during this period, a common jazz band would consist of a cornet, a clarinet, a trombone, and a rhythm section when at this period of time the clarinet is not commonly associated with being a jazz instrument, it moved into being the saxophone rather. A big

At age sixteen, Armstrong was released from Waif’s Home and “was sent to live with his father.” (Brown, Page 22) However, he quickly went back to living with his mother and sister. During this time, he “obtained his first job as a professional musician.” (Anderson, Paragraph 5) “Armstrong’s reputation as a musician continued to grow,” (Biography.com, Paragraph 7) and he soon was mentored by another local cornet player, King Oliver.

In Missouri he joined up with the Fate Marable’s band. After three years, Louis’s dreams came true. Joe Oliver asked him to travel to Chicago to join his Creole Jazz Band. It took little time for the city of Chicago to fall in love with Louis’s New Orleanian style of jazz. Louis was becoming a star. After a quick trip to Los Angeles, he returned to Chicago to form a band and began touring.

For my Black scientist essay, I have chosen Theodore Kenneth Lawless. He is known as a dermatologist, physician,and philanthropist; and for his great knowledge. He was born on December 06, 1892 at Thibodaux, LA and died on May 01, 1971 at Chicago, IL. Once during his childhood, he had helped a Jewish peddler by explaining an information to him. After that was happening the Jewish peddler decided to help and be kind to Mr. Lawless and his family. He started his career by a Jewish physician, he had helped Mr. Lawless to have an opportunity at Columbia.

"What he does is real, and true, and honest, and simple, and even noble. Every time this man puts his trumpet to his lips, even if only to practice three notes, he does it with his whole soul." This quote by composer, Leonard Bernstein, perfectly grasps what Louis Armstrong aspired for every time he unhinged the case of his instrument. This recognition is what countless other black artists, musicians, poets and writers desired during the outbreak of literary and artistic African American culture in the first half of the 1900’s, known as the Harlem Renaissance. Though many worked to further this movement Louis Armstrong is one the most renowned and greatest contributors. First of all, Louis Armstrong’s life is a great example of the rags-to-riches

Growing up I was consumed by an interesting assortment of music. Musical influences were thrown at me from all directions. Whether it was the rock and roll and punk rock music my dad listened to, or the country and pop music my mom listened to, my ears were always full of different arrays of music. Having my grandma blasting gospel music and my older sister jamming Disney, music became a very influential part of my childhood.

The early development of jazz is closely tied with the community and is a very important part of the history of New Orleans. New Orleans is seen to be the home of new jazz during the 1900's. Both King Oliver and Louis Armstrong were two very important figures in the creation of jazz. Both of these amazing and talented artist made big impressions in New Orleans during their careers.

Louis Armstrong had a tremendous impact on history of American Jazz. As a trumpeter, singer, and soloist, he had acquired a reputation in his lifetime as “the greatest trumpet player who had ever lived.” His numerous accomplishments, even in an America where African-Americans rarely found success, propelled him to be one of the most notable Jazz musicians.