Louis Armstrong: The King Of Jazz

Jazz is one of the more wide known forms of music around the world -- it is all around us whether we realize it or not. Jazz styles are in songs throughout many time periods ranging from around 1895 to present day. When we break down a song into its simplest forms, there are certain common jazz styles that are present. Most listeners do not realize that what they are hearing is some form of jazz in one way or another. There have been many influential artists who played an influential role in jazz’s development. For example, Louis Armstrong is one of the most famous trumpeters and a huge role model in the musical world. Other talented artists like Billie holiday helped lead the way for women in jazz music. John Coltrane spread positivity wherever
Louis Armstrong is one of the biggest jazz figure and is more often referred to as the “King of Jazz”. “There is two kinds of music, the good, and the bad. I play the good kind” (Armstrong). Louis did not always have the easiest life, “when he was only 11 years old, Armstrong was sent to live at a boys home” (Father of Jazz) which made him a better man and jazz musician in the end. His amazing trumpet skills and tone flourished among other jazz musicians. Thereupon, he was quick to be discovered and had no trouble making a name for himself in this crazy world. People loved Louis and they loved his ability to tell a story. His stories were not only on his trumpet, but through his veritably unique sound that was make when he
Most would describe him exactly how Robin Kelley does when he says that, “Louis Armstrong would usher in modern jazz by bringing together a sense of blues, aesthetic, musical virtuosity, and astounding intonation on his instrument” (Kelley). People thought highly of Armstrong and respected his work. He had his own way of doing things. “Armstrong’s sense of swing, his solos, his singing, his scatting, it’s all there” (Riccardi). All musicians and directors whether they were trained in classical music or not, loved Armstrong and all that he was about. He paved the way for so many more African Americans like him. Louis was like a train going up against a small fence. He faced and defeated any challenge that was presented to him along the road to fame. Unbeknownst to him, he would become one of the greatest of all times. “Armstrong broke down many barriers throughout the 1930’s...Just through his music and the sheer force of his personality, the barriers started falling” (Riccardi). He was and always will be considered a legend in the subject of jazz music. Anyone who knows the slightest thing about jazz music should know Louis Armstrong’s name. Among him were many other influential jazz