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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 451-475 of 780 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Decca 67531 10-in. 4/11/1940 Marie Mills Brothers vocalist, instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 67648 10-in. 5/1/1940 Sweethearts on parade Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra vocalist, instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 67649 10-in. 5/1/1940 You run your mouth, I'll run my business Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra vocalist, instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 67650 10-in. 5/1/1940 Cut off my legs and call me Shorty Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra vocalist, instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 67651 10-in. 5/1/1940 Cain and Abel Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra vocalist, instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 67817 10-in. 5/27/1940 Perdido Street blues Sidney Bechet ; Louis Armstrong Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 67818 10-in. 5/27/1940 2:19 blues Sidney Bechet ; Louis Armstrong Orchestra vocalist, instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 67819 10-in. 5/27/1940 Down in honky tonk town (some pressings De. 18091 (alb. A-144)) Sidney Bechet ; Louis Armstrong Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 67820 10-in. 5/27/1940 Coal cart blues Sidney Bechet ; Louis Armstrong Orchestra vocalist, instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 68796 10-in. 3/10/1941 Everything's been done before Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra vocalist, instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 68797 10-in. 3/10/1941 I cover the waterfront Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra vocalist, instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 68798 10-in. 3/10/1941 In the gloaming Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra vocalist, instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 68799 10-in. 3/10/1941 Long, long ago Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra vocalist, instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 68997 10-in. 4/11/1941 Hey lawdy Mama Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra vocalist, instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 68998 10-in. 4/11/1941 I'll get mine bye and bye Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra vocalist, instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 68999 10-in. 4/11/1941 (Now) Do you call that a buddy? Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra vocalist, instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 69000 10-in. 4/11/1941 Yes Suh! Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra vocalist, instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 72692 10-in. 1/14/1945 Jodie man Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra vocalist, instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 72693 10-in. 1/14/1945 I wonder-1 Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra vocalist, instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 73285 1/18/1946 You won't be satisfied Louis Armstrong ; Ella Fitzgerald vocalist, instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 73286 1/18/1946 The frim fram sauce Louis Armstrong ; Ella Fitzgerald vocalist, instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 75221 9/1/1949 Maybe it's because Louis Armstrong vocalist, instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 75222 9/1/1949 I'll keep the lovelight burning Louis Armstrong vocalist, instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 75227 9/6/1949 That lucky old sun Louis Armstrong ; Gordon Jenkins and his Chorus and Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 75228 9/6/1949 Blueberry hill-1 Louis Armstrong ; Gordon Jenkins and his Chorus and Orchestra vocalist  
(Results 451-475 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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