Louis Armstrong: Jazz Great Jazz Term Paper

On stage or off, he was "endearing, carefree ambiance that contrasted greatly with the bravura exhibitions of technique from earlier decades" (69). By the 1950s, everyone knew who Louis Armstrong was and it is safe to say he was an international celebrity. He was more than just a jazz great -- he was an "icon to musicians and lovers of jazz" (Smithsonian) because of his style and incredible individuality. Armstrong also enjoyed success later in life. In 1964, his version of the song, Hello Dolly, knocked the Beatles out of the number one spot on the record charts. It's a Wonderful World is another tune that is popular today because of its message of hope for life and the world, although Armstrong did not write the lyrics to this song.

Louis Armstrong did not dominate the jazz world for 50 years for no reason at all. He remained popular and significant because he pushed boundaries and was never afraid to try something new. He was also multi-talented and appeared in more than 30 films and was a "superb comic" (Louis Armstrong House).With Armstrong, we see how talent thrives in the most unlikely places and if given just a small bit of room to grow, it can evolve into something wonderful. From poverty to international fame, Armstrong was simply doing what he loved to do. His ideas proved to be catchy and fun for those who enjoy listening and playing jazz music. We often do not consider the tremendous affect jazz has made on American music. At the same time, we forget the artists who made the music, pushing new ideas and sounds forward with Works Cited

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Fordham, John. Jazz. New York: Dorling Kindersley Books. 1993.

Gioia, Ted. The History of Jazz. New York: Oxford University Press. 1997.

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