Biography of Louis Armstrong
Known variously as "Pops" to most musicians and "Satchmo" to the public, Louis Armstrong is considered by many critics to be the most important and influential figure in jazz history. Any writer who deals with Armstrong soon realizes that all the superlatives that might be applied to his musical contributions have long ago been exhausted, but the current trend is to assign equal importance to his dual roles as artist and entertainer, thus opening up the entirety of his extensive recorded output to serious consideration. From his Hot Five rendition of "Heebie Jeebies" (often identified as the first recorded example of "scat" singing) to The All Stars "Hello Dolly" (which displaced the Beatles at the top of the charts in 1964), there is literally something for everyone in The Armstrong discography. Small wonder that his "What A Wonderful World" is currently being used to advertise a variety of products -- its appeal is truly universal.Attempts to explain Armstrong's virtuosity on cornet and trumpet in terms of influences usually focus on Joe "King" Oliver (and sometimes Bunk Johnson), but it is more likely that he drew on the entire range of styles available to him while a precocious youth in New Orleans (including Buddy Petit, Chris Kelly, Henry "Kid" Rena, Manuel Perez, as well as Oliver and Johnson), creating a synthesis which was intensely personal and compelling. Historians now credit him as the pioneer figure in the development of extended solo improvisation with his Hot Five recordings, effectively transcending the collective improvisational techniques which were the hallmark of the early New Orleans jazz bands. His singing style was no less creative, setting the standard for virtually every major jazz vocalist who followed him. Throughout his long career, Armstrong maintained a "down to earth" quality which made him accessible to his audiences; considering his meteoric rise from the Waif's Home to superstar status by the mid 20s, this was a remarkable achievement in its own right. As a symbol for the aspirations of African-Americans, "Pops" offered the world vision of harmony which was more than strictly musical. This fact was not lost upon the State Department: Armstrong's All Stars became the group of choice for "good will" tours designed to win over Third World countries with the escalation of the Cold War in the 50s.During the course of his recording career, Louis Armstrong was affiliated with virtually every major label in the United States, and a complete sampling of his oeuvre requires a dedicated sense of commitment from the listener because of the sheer enormity of the undertaking. For those who are up to the task, what soon becomes apparent is Armstrong's adaptability -- he followed (or led) every trend from the "hot" jazz of the 20s through the swing era, but eventually drew the line at "modern" jazz (bebop), at which point he returned to a "traditional" format with the formation of The All Stars in 1946. In a sense, he came full circle, returning to his roots and the intimacy of a small-band setting populated with a succession of close musical friends. What held all these bands together, what gives Armstrong's work continuity, is his personality, a gift which he offered modestly and sincerely. The sweat-soaked handkerchief and the "Satchmo" smile said it all: It's easy to work hard when you love what you do. This simple message to a complex world is precisely what Louis Armstrong was all about. ~ Bruce Boyd Raeburn
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