Biography of Louis Armstrong. Louis Armstrong: biography, best songs, interesting facts, listen to Louis, American jazz musician

Louis Daniel Armstrong ( Louis Daniel"Satchmo" Armstrong ) was born on August 4, 1901 in New Orleans. He was the son of William, a laborer, and Mary Ann, daughter former slaves. His parents finally separated when he was five years old and he was left to live with his sister, rather flighty mother and grandmother in the dysfunctional and poor outskirts of Storyville, known as the “Battlefield” due to the dominance gambling, continuous drunkenness, showdowns and shooting that often took place there. Often the boy had to earn extra money by delivering newspapers and delivering coal. Having finished primary school At the age of eleven, he often sang songs with friends, trying to earn a living. At that time, he received great support in the form of work from a family of Jewish immigrants from Lithuania, who accepted him as their own. To commemorate this period, Louis wore a Star of David around his neck.

At age 12, Louis was arrested for shooting into the air and sent to a reform school for troubled teenagers, where he first began learning to play the piano. musical instrument. After his release, he began performing with local bands. He did not have his own instrument, nor did he have money for it, so Louis was forced to borrow from friends. The guy was noticed by King Oliver, the leader of the first large African-American group. Armstrong joined Oliver in Chicago and remained with the team until 1924. As a member of the Creole Jazz Band, he made his debut studio recordings. After receiving his first experience, he went to New York to play with Fletcher Henderson's band. Spectators came to concerts largely for Louis' original improvisational solos.

Jazz pioneer

During the early Roaring Twenties, Chicago became the home of jazz. Louis Daniel Armstrong returned here in the fall of 1925, organized a group and began recording the greatest compositions in the history of jazz with the Hot Five musicians. He developed a unique style and played amazing solos. During these years, Armstrong worked with large groups in Chicago clubs and theaters. The vocals that accompanied the recordings after 1925 complemented his playing with a velvety hoarseness. The peak of performing skills came in the early thirties of the last century. A refined, unique performance style combined with a mature approach led to a rethinking of early compositions and their re-recordings. He achieved international fame and traveled to Europe for the first time as a soloist in 1932. After the end of World War II, starting with a trip to France in 1948, he began touring regularly around the world. Traveled throughout Europe, Africa, Japan, Australia and South America.

Louis continued to perform in large orchestras until 1947, and then returned to a small team of first-class musicians called the All Stars. Louis starred in films and wrote books. One of the most famous musicians in the history of jazz music, died in New York of a heart attack on July 6, 1971.

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"Look how beautiful the world is. I can give you nothing but love..." Louis Armstrong

Louis Armstrong's unique voice has been imitated by countless performers over the years. He popularized scat singing, which relied more on nonsense sounds than words, and his musical phrasing on the trumpet influenced virtually every singer who appeared on the scene after 1930, such as Bing Crosby, Billie Holliday and Frank Sinatra. In addition to everything, a wonderful sense of humor and radiant stage image Louis Armstrong became, perhaps, the main and natural factor in the popularization of jazz. Young performers were inspired by seeing him on stage at least once, and millions of spectators were enchanted by jazz through the magic of Armstrong's music. IN later years His creative work and Armstrong's world tours made him known as "America's Messenger of Peace."

Louis Armstrong was born in New Orleans on August 4, 1901 (his birth certificate was found in the mid-80s, so this date is very rough) and grew up in a poor part of the city, sometimes performing on the streets for pennies as a singer in a vocal quartet .

IN New Year's Eve 1912, Louis picked up a pistol and fired into the air, celebrating the holiday, after which he was arrested and sent to a home for difficult-to-educate teenagers. This period of his life became the starting point for him as a musician, because. It was in a home for the difficult to educate that he learned to play the cornet. Upon his release two years later, Louis began playing in jazz bands in New Orleans. When King Oliver, who was Armstrong's patron, left New Orleans, he recommended Louis to Kid Ory and his then-popular band. Four years later, King Oliver invited his protégé to play in Chicago in his Creole Jazz Band as a second cornetist.

In 1922-24, King Oliver played in the best classical jazz orchestras and it soon became obvious that Louis was beginning to push aside the maestro with his playing.

In 1923, the group recorded forty-one compositions for four labels and met pianist Lily Harden, who became the second of Louis Armstrong's four wives. Lily persuades Louis to leave the group and move to Fletcher's Henderson orchestra in New York, perhaps the most popular orchestra at that time. At that time, the musicians New York lagged behind Chicago musicians in technology. This is probably why Armstrong's playing gave local musicians the opportunity to feel a new direction. Louis began recording as an accompanist blues performers, for example, Bessie Smith and Ma Rainey, as well as with other musicians and groups: Sidney Bechet and Clarence Williams' Blue Five. In 1925, after leaving the Henderson Orchestra, Louis moved back to Chicago and began his famous "Hot Five" and "Hot Seven" series.

In 1925-27, together with clarinetist Johnny Dodds, trombonist Kid Ory, pianist Lilly Armstrong and banjo master Johnny St. Cyr, Armstrong recorded masterpiece after masterpiece - music that elevated and glorified New Orleans jazz. The composition “Cornet Chop Sue” amazed music connoisseurs (in this 1927 composition, Louis exchanges the cornet for a trumpet), and the composition “Heebies Jeebies” became a hit and finally made scat singing popular. In 1928, Armstrong plays in the studio The group Savoy Ballroom Five. "West End Blues", with its charming trumpet introduction, was considered by many, including Armstrong himself, to be the most successful recording - along with "Weather Bird", performed as a duet with Earl Hines.

Armstrong performed in various late-night shows in Chicago with the big bands of Erskine Tate and Carol Dickerson, honing his showmanship. Beginning in 1929, he began recording as the leader of several jazz groups at once, creating classic masterpieces, such as "I Can"t Give You Anything But Love". In the next decade, the name of Louis Armstrong became a kind of business card jazz, in 1932-34 he made two tours to Europe, played several memorable bit parts in films and played in a large swing group. The most memorable thing about him musical career became collaboration with Earl Hines in 1928 - the magic of Louis' playing can be felt throughout the recordings, and his voice is at the peak of emotional expressiveness.

In 1947, Armstrong left the large group and formed the sixtet "The All-Stars", which included trombonist Jack Teagarden, clarinetist Barney Bigard and Earl Hines. With him, Armstrong begins a continuous tour that will last until his death.

Louis Armstrong is an iconic American jazz performer, trumpeter and singer. Born on August 4, 1901, into a dysfunctional family of hereditary slaves in one of the dirtiest areas of New Orleans. The father of the future musician left the family when he was still a few months old, and the mother had to engage in prostitution in order to support herself and her son.

Little Louis Armstrong did not stay away from the family’s financial problems and helped his mother with money in every possible way: he delivered newspapers and transported coal to Stroryville, an area known for a large number of brothels. It was from the window of a local brothel that Armstrong first heard jazz music, and it immediately made an impression on him.

At the age of 11, Louis Armstrong dropped out of school and began singing on the street for handouts with other poor boys. However, this money was still not enough to normal life and he begins working for the Karnovsky family, Jewish emigrants who own a garbage hauling company. Even though he is still just a boy, Louis already sees that his trustees are being oppressed by “white” people.

A poor life forced Armstrong to often go on the path of the law and steal food, which is why he ended up in isolation. There, the site manager, out of pity, taught the boy to play the trumpet, which gave the first impetus to his future career as a jazz trumpeter. Now, having learned to play a little, Louis could combine pleasant work with necessary work: in the evenings he performed songs with various groups in clubs, and during the day he carried coal.

By the age of twenty-two, Armstrong already had more or less stable musical earnings, an adopted child, and a wife, with whom he, however, soon separated. In 1922, Louis Armstrong traveled to Chicago, where he joined the Creole Jazz Band, with whom the first big success. The group became the leader of the jazz movement in the country, and Armstrong finally emerged completely from poverty.

Then followed a series of long journeys from city to city, studio recordings, concert tours, and by 1943 Armstrong settled in New York. There he continues to develop his musical style and work hard. It got to the point that Armstrong gave three hundred concerts a year, and this had a very adverse effect on his health, and in 1959 he suffered a heart attack.

But despite this, recording hit after hit, of which the most famous was “Hello, Dolly,” Louis Armstrong spent his entire life in a busy concert schedule, until his death in 1971. At that time, the musician was 69 years old, and he was already recognized as one of the most influential people in jazz.

Louis Armstrong, full name Louis Daniel "Satchmo" Armstrong(Louis Daniel "Satchmo" Armstrong) - great American musician twentieth century, trumpeter, vocalist and leader of a jazz ensemble.

Armstrong became one of the most influential people in the world of jazz music.

The musician was born in a disadvantaged area of ​​New Orleans.

He didn’t even know exactly the date of his birth, since such events were not officially recorded in documents. It was considered especially prestigious to be born on July 4, the Independence Day of the United States of America, and to this day two dates of birth can be found in different sources Louis Armstrong- July 4 and August 4, 1901.

Mother Armstrong, Mayann, made a living by engaging in prostitution, and her father left the family when the children were still very young. Childhood Louis spent together with younger sister Beatrice by Grandma Josephine, who told her grandchildren stories about the times when people with black skin were slaves.

Louis grew up in the Storyville area, known for its brothels and free morals. Since childhood future star jazz music unloaded carriages, sold newspapers and sang in the street vocal ensemble, thereby earning a living.

One day he stole a pistol from one of his mother’s clients and started a real shooting on New Year’s Day, 1913, for which he was immediately handed over to the Wayf’s Home correctional boarding camp. Exactly there Louis Armstrong mastered playing the tambourine, alto horn and cornet while performing in a brass band.

Back in town Armstrong decided to become a musician. His teachers were King Oliver and famous trombonist Kid Ory. Louis performed in an ensemble "Tuxedo Brass Band" by Oscar "Papa" Celestine in 1918 in Chicago. And in his native New Orleans he played in a band "Jazz-E-Sazz Band" by Fats Marable. During tours on cruise ships in summer season, Armstrong learned musical notation and got my nickname Sachmo, abbreviation for English Satchel Mouth(“mouth-wallet”).

In 1922 Louis Armstrong invited as second cornetist in "Creole Jazz Band", Chicago's most vibrant jazz ensemble.

The musician's first wife was a prostitute Daisy Parker from New Orleans. In 1924 he married for the second time to a pianist "Creole Jazz Band" Lil Hardin. It is the second wife Armstrong insisted on the need to develop his solo career.

Your own unique style Louis Armstrong found in New York, in the orchestra Fletcher Henderson. Jazz lovers started talking about the new star and advised their friends to listen to his solo performances.

In 1925 Armstrong returned to Chicago and recorded an album "Hot Five" by inviting a trombonist Kida Ori, clarinetist Johnny Dodds, banjo player Johnny St. Cyr and a pianist Lil Hardin. These recordings have become classics of jazz music. A year later he was leading his own orchestra "Louis Armstrong And His Stompers", and to the quintet "Hot Five" have joined Pete Briggs And Baby Dodds, forming new line-up "Hot Seven".

In 1927 Armstrong switched to the trumpet, giving up playing the cornet.

In the 1930s, the musician toured extensively with famous big bands. The European tour brought him worldwide fame. In between tours Armstrong performed with orchestras Charlie Gaines, Chick Webb, Kid Ory, with vocal quartet Mills Brothers. At the same time he participated in theatrical productions and radio programs, acted in films.

In 1936 he released his autobiography "Swing That Music", and underwent several operations on upper lip. Due to excessive pressure from the mouthpiece and improper embouchure, deformation and tissue rupture occurred. Armstrong He also performed surgery on the vocal cords, with the help of which he tried to get rid of the hoarse timbre of his voice.

In 1938, the musician married a dancer for the fourth time. Lucille Wilson, with whom he lived in love and harmony until the end of his days.

Joe Glaser, the musician’s manager, decided to create an ensemble "All Stars", which included famous masters jazz Except Louis Armstrong(trumpet, vocals), they played Earl Hines(piano), Jack Teagarden(trombone), Barney Bigard(clarinet), Bud Freeman(tenor saxophone), Sid Catlett(drums).

By the mid-1950s Armstrong became one of the most famous musicians in the world. The US State Department gave him the unofficial title of "Ambassador of Jazz" and began sponsoring his world tours. From a trip to Russia Armstrong refused:

People would ask me what was going on in my country. What could I answer them? I have wonderful Life in music, but I feel like any other black man...

His second autobiography was published in 1954. “Satchmo.My Life in New Orleans".

Louis Armstrong continued to take part in jazz festivals, tour around Europe. With his assistance, a number of philharmonic organizations were created jazz concerts in the Town Hall and on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera.

In 1959 Louis Armstrong suffered a heart attack, but even this did not stop him from continuing his performances. Your ingenious compositions "Hello, Dolly!" And "What a Wonderful World" Armstrong recorded during these years.

When another heart attack forced him to go to the hospital, the musician asked to assemble his orchestra for rehearsal, but on July 6, 1971, the great jazzman passed away due to heart failure and kidney failure.

July 8 body Louis Armstrong was displayed for a ceremonial farewell in the National Guard training arena. President of the United States Nixon made a statement:

Mrs. Nixon and I share the grief of millions of Americans over the death Louis Armstrong. He was one of the creators American art. A man of bright personality, Armstrong won worldwide fame. His brilliant talent and nobility enriched our spiritual life and made it more rich.

Discography

1. What A Wonderful World (1970)
2. Disney Songs The Satchmo Way (1968)
3. I Will Wait For You (1967)
4. Louis (1964)
5. Satchmo (1964)
6. Hello, Dolly (1963)
7. Together For The First Time (1961)
8. Armstrong/Ellington: Together For The First (1961)
9. Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington (1961)
10. Paris Blues (1960)
11. Happy Birthday, Louis! (live) (1960)
12. Louis & the Dukes of Dixieland (1960)
13. Satchmo In Style (1959)
14. Louis and the Angels (1957)
15. Louis Armstrong Meets Oscar Peterson (1957)
16. Porgy and Bess (1957)
17. Louis Under The Stars (1957)
18. At Pasadena Civic Auditorium, vol.1 (live) (1956)
19. Ella and Louis (1956)
20. American Jazz Festival At Newport (live) (1956)
21. Great Chicago Concert 1956 (live) (1956)
22. Louis Armstrong Plays W.C.Handy (1956)
23. Ambassador Satch (1955)
24. Satchmo The Great(live) (1955)
25. Satch Plays Fats: The Music Of Fats Waller (1955)
26. Louis Armstrong Sings The Blues (1954)
27. Latter Day Louis (1954)
28. Satchmo At Pasadena (live) (1951)
29. New Orleans To New York (1950)
30. Satchmo Serenades (1950)
31. Satchmo On Stage (live) (1950)
32. New Orleans Nights (1950)
33. Jazz Concert (live) (1950)
34. New Orleans Days (1950)
35. Satchmo At Symphony Hall, vol.2 (live) (1947)
36. Satchmo At Symphony Hall (live) (1947)
37. Satchmo Sings (1947)
38. New Orleans Jazz (1940)
39. Louis Armstrong In The Thirties, vol.1 (1939)
40. On The Sunny Side Of The Street (1938)
41. New Discoveries (1937)
42. Jazz Heritage: Satchmo's Discoveries (1936)
43. Rhythm saved The World (1935)
44. Paris Session (1934)
45. More Greatest Hits (1933)
46. The Fabulous Louis Armstrong (1932)
47. Stardust (1931)
48. Louis Armstrong & His Orchestra (1930)
49. Hot Fives & Sevens, vol.4 (1929)
50. Louis Armstrong And His Orchestra (1928)
51. Hot Fives & Sevens, vol.3 (1927)
52. Hot Fives & Sevens, vol.2 (1926)
53. Hot Fives & Sevens, vol.1 (1925)
54. Louis Armstrong And The Blues Singers (1924)
55. The Young Louis Armstrong (1923)