Music
Louis Armstrong's Influential Career Louis Armstrong was the most successful and talented jazz musician in history. His influence and expansive career continues to make waves in the jazz world. That is what made him become what he is to many today - a legend. Born on August 4, 1901, in the poorest section of New Orleans, Armstrong grew up with his grandparents due to his parents' separation. On January 1, 1913 he made a mistake which turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to him. At a New Year's celebration in downtown New Orleans, Louis Armstrong, also known as "Satchmo" and "Satch", fired a pistol into the air and was placed in the Colored Waifs' Home. It was there that he was introduced to Peter Davis - the brass band leader who taught him how to play the cornet (Brown 17). Soon after he began playing, Armstrong was made leader of the band - something he was extremely proud of. In June of 1914, Armstrong was free to leave the Waifs' Home. He was hired by various! cabarets throughout the city, as well as for picnics, dances, and funerals. It was at one of these places that he was spotted by the famous Joe 'King' Oliver. King Oliver found Armstrong stand-in slots at orchestras and other venues. In 1918, he was offer
ifteen other musicians (Brown 76). For the next twelve years he starred in various films and played with his new band. It was in 1947 that he abandoned the big band and returned to small band format. He joined the All-Star's, made up of Jack Teagarden, George Wettling, Big Sid Catlett, Dick Cary, Peanuts Hucko, Bob Hagart. That turned out to be the group he worked with until his death. In the heat of the Civil Rights Movement, Louis Armstrong was called an "Uncle Tom" by blacks, referring to Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin. African-Americans blamed Armstrong for not using his fame to speak out against the unjust treatment of his race in the United States (Brown 92). They also said he was holding his race back because he didn't demand respect from whites and he smiled too much when he was in public (Crouch 171). In Armstrong's opinion he didn't understand what he was doing wrong. He had ignored prejudice because he had been taught to respect people unless they had per! duced a freedom to music that continues to impact popular music (Sadie 601). Without this American genius music would not be what it is today. (Boujut 33). In 1932 the Hot Five split up. Armstrong remained in California and starred in Rhapsody in Black and Blue and You Rascal You. Later that year, he sailed to England where he played for the King (Crouch 171). An experience that ranked as "one of the best times of my life," he stated (Bergreen 107). Something interesting happened to Armstrong in 1933. In London's Daily Express the death of the "trumpet player with lips of steel," was reported (Boujut 36). Five days later Melody Maker issued a correction but the news had already spread around the globe. In April of 1934 Armstrong began touring Europe. He visited various countries including France, Belgium, Switzerland, and the Netherlands where he was welcomed with open arms. The tour was scheduled to carry on to North Africa and Egypt, but the state of Armstrong's' l
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1320
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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