Louis Armstrong: Culture And Historical Influence Of Jazz Music

Throughout history, different types of music have been a distinguishing characteristic of varying cultures. One genre of music that harbors such culture and historical significance is jazz. Jazz originated between the late 1800s and the early 1900s, right here in the United States. Jazz was known for incorporating African American forms of music with that of European music. It was seen as a cultural movement, and interestingly enough, the emergence of jazz coincided with the Harlem Renaissance. New Orleans, Louisiana is most known for the origination of jazz music, and is also the birthplace of one of the most influential jazz artists of all time, Louis Armstrong. One cannot educate themselves about jazz without learning about the man who
A couple years later, Louis received a request from Joe Oliver, in which he invited Louis to join his jazz band in Chicago. Within a few months of moving to Chicago and playing in the Creole Jazz Band, some of the most classic jazz records were released. Howard Reich explains Armstrong’s unique music to us when stating that,”Never before had the world heard such hot trumpet playing, with stratospheric high notes and crying, blue-note phrases more eloquent than the human voice.” The abundance of clubs, radio broadcasting, and record companies in Chicago catalyzed Louis Armstrong’s rising popularity. It was during this part of his life that Louis married Lillian Hardin, a fellow band member that played the piano. It was she that encouraged Louis Armstrong to branch out on his own and leave Oliver’s band. Armstrong joined Fletcher Henderson’s Orchestra in New York City in 1924, a band on which he had a great influence (“Louis Armstrong Biography”). However, an unhappy Louis soon left the band and returned to Chicago. Finally, Louis Armstrong began producing music with a band that was under his name. Louis Armstrong and His Hot Five, within three years, produced more than sixty records. Biography.com tells us that,”Today, these are generally regarded as the most important and influential recordings in jazz history; on these records, Armstrong 's virtuoso brilliance helped transform jazz from an ensemble music to a soloist 's art.” Louis Armstrong’s fandom continued to flourish until he was even appearing in Broadway productions and movies. Armstrong eventually went on tour in Europe, during which his now ex-wife sued him, his manager stranded him, and his lip, from so many years of playing, grew sore. He returned to Chicago with no band and no recording label. However, Louis fought past this series of unfortunate events and again reached the top. Louis continued playing until