Musician Spotlight: Louis Armstrong

Louis Armstrong, otherwise known as Satchmo, Satch, and Pops, was an American trumpeter, composer, vocalist, and actor. He is one of the most influential figures in jazz and his career overall has spanned across five decades from the 1920s to the 1960s. This meant he lived through different eras of jazz and had an impressionable effect on all of them.

Who was Louis Armstrong?

Louis was born and raised in New Orleans, arriving on August 4th, 1901. He came onto the scene prominently in the 1920s with his inventive trumpet and cornet playing. Armstrong had a fairly rough and poor childhood. With a few wrong decisions, he landed himself in trouble and sentenced to detention at Colored Waif’s Home.

Armstrong would develop his cornet skills by playing in the band and it was Peter Davis who would become his first teacher, choosing him as the bandleader. This role attracted the attention of Kid Ory at just thirteen years old.

He avoided the temptation of slipping into his old life and sought work as a musician.

What genre did Armstrong cover?

Armstrong had quite the varied selection of genres that he covered. Jazz and swing were two, as well as traditional pop. He also covered Dixieland which is referred to as hot jazz or traditional jazz. As far as Armstrong goes, he was a real influence on jazz, shifting from collection improvisation to solo performance

Major accomplishments

Armstrong had many major accomplishments not just in music but also on-screen too. He appeared in films like High Society featuring Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra, and Hello Dolly! with Barbra Streisand.

When it came to music, in 1922, he went to play in the Creole Jazz Band in Chicago, where he would spend time rubbing shoulders with other popular jazz musicians. He came to New York and featured as an influential band soloist and recording artist. After years of touring, he settled in Queens. By the 1950s, he’d become a national musical icon.

He was recognized as one of the first popular African-American entertainers to cross-over to audiences that were popular with white people. And he did all he could to help make change where he could.

In regards to his legacy, he’s had many buildings and notable venues named after him and his house where he lived is considered as a National Historic Landmark.

What instruments did Armstrong use?

For his instruments, he was mostly known for his horn playing and early jazz. The cornet and trumpet were his instruments. One of the reasons why he was so popular through musicals on-screen too was because of his singing voice. It was a unique, gravelly type that was distinct and well-received by those who heard it.

Watch Louis Armstrong perform one of his classics, “What A Wonderful World”:

Louis Armstrong was one of those influential figures that crossed over many formats, making him one of the most iconic musician, actor, and composer of all time. He will forever be remembered for his talents, of which there were many!