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Louis Armstrong

Louis Daniel Armstrong (August 4, 1901 – July 6, 1971), nicknamed "Satchmo", "Satch", and "Pops", was an American trumpeter and vocalist. He was among the most influential figures in jazz. His career spanned five decades and several eras in the history of jazz. He received numerous accolades including the Grammy Award for Best Male Vocal Performance for Hello, Dolly! in 1965, as well as a posthumous win for the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1972, and induction into the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame in 2017.

Armstrong was born and raised in New Orleans. Coming to prominence in the 1920s as an inventive trumpet and cornet player, Armstrong was a foundational influence in jazz, shifting the focus of the music from collective improvisation to solo performance. Around 1922, he followed his mentor, Joe "King" Oliver, to Chicago to play in the Creole Jazz Band. He earned a reputation at "cutting contests", and his fame reached band leader Fletcher Henderson. He moved to New York City, where he became a featured and musically influential band soloist and recording artist. By the 1950s, he was a national musical icon, assisted in part, by his appearances on radio and in film and television, in addition to his concerts.

His best known songs include "What a Wonderful World", "La Vie en Rose", "Hello, Dolly!", "On the Sunny Side of the Street", "Dream a Little Dream of Me", "When You're Smiling" and "When the Saints Go Marching In". He collaborated with Ella Fitzgerald producing three records together Ella and Louis (1956), Ella and Louis Again (1957), and Porgy and Bess (1959). He also appeared in films such as A Rhapsody in Black and Blue (1932), Cabin in the Sky (1943), High Society (1956), Paris Blues (1961), A Man Called Adam (1966), and Hello, Dolly! (1969).

With his instantly recognizable rich, gravelly voice, Armstrong was also an influential singer and skillful improviser, bending the lyrics and melody of a song. He was also skilled at scat singing. By the end of Armstrong's life, his influence had spread to popular music in general. Armstrong was one of the first popular African-American entertainers to "cross over" to wide popularity with white (and international) audiences. He rarely publicly discussed racial issues, to the dismay of fellow African Americans, but took a well-publicized stand for desegregation in the Little Rock crisis. He was able to access the upper echelons of American society at a time when this was difficult for black men.

Birth and Death Data: Born August 4, 1901 (New Orleans), Died July 6, 1971 (New York City)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1923 - 1969

Roles Represented in DAHR: trumpet, vocalist, leader, cornet, composer, songwriter, speaker, lyricist

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 426-450 of 780 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Decca 65045 10-in. 2/20/1939 Rockin' chair-1 Louis Armstrong ; Casa Loma Orchestra vocalist, instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 65046 10-in. 2/20/1939 Lazybones Louis Armstrong ; Casa Loma Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 65344 10-in. 4/5/1939 Hear me talkin' to ya Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 65345 10-in. 4/5/1939 Save it pretty Mama Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra vocalist, instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 65346 10-in. 4/5/1939 West End blues Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra vocalist, instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 65347 10-in. 4/5/1939 Savoy blues Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 65460 10-in. 4/25/1939 (I'm) Confessin' (that I love you) Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 65461 10-in. 4/25/1939 Our Monday date Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra vocalist, instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 65462 10-in. 4/25/1939 If it's good then I want it Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra vocalist, instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 65463 10-in. 4/25/1939 Me and Brother Bill Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra vocalist, instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 65824 10-in. 6/15/1939 Baby, won't you please come home? Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra vocalist, instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 65825 10-in. 6/15/1939 Poor old Joe Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra vocalist, instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 65826 10-in. 6/15/1939 Shanty boat on the Mississippi Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra vocalist, instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 66984 10-in. 12/18/1939 Poor old Joe Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra vocalist, instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 66985 10-in. 12/18/1939 You're a lucky guy Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra vocalist, instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 66986 10-in. 12/18/1939 You're just a no account Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra vocalist, instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 66987 10-in. 12/18/1939 Bye and bye Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra vocalist, instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 67321 10-in. 3/14/1940 Hep cat's ball Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra vocalist, instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 67322 10-in. 3/14/1940 You've got me voodoo'd Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra vocalist, instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 67323 10-in. 3/14/1940 Harlem stomp Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra vocalist, instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 67324 10-in. 3/14/1940 Wolverine blues Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra vocalist, instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 67325 10-in. 3/14/1940 Lazy 'sippi steamer Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra vocalist, instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 67519 10-in. 4/10/1940 W.P.A. Louis Armstrong ; Mills Brothers vocalist, instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 67520 10-in. 4/10/1940 Boog it Louis Armstrong ; Mills Brothers vocalist, instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 67530 10-in. 4/11/1940 Cherry Louis Armstrong ; Mills Brothers vocalist, instrumentalist, trumpet  
(Results 426-450 of 780 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Armstrong, Louis," accessed November 22, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/101863.

Armstrong, Louis. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 22, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/101863.

"Armstrong, Louis." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 22 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/101863

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