Louis Armstrong

   Louis Armstrong popularized the world of jazz by creating new, magnificent music. His ability to innovate new jazz music is highlighted here, Armstrong approached music in a much different manner than others. His brilliant and daring sense of harmony helped to create vital melodies that made for major innovations in jazz (The Editors). Armstrong had a different technique when it came to playing music. This separated him from other musicians in the music/jazz industry and caught the eyes of people who maybe were not originally into jazz. Before him, jazz was not as extravagant. His contributions have allowed for the enhancement of jazz around the world. To add on to that, his greatness was shown when, “His beautiful tone and gift for structuring bravura solos with brilliant high-note climaxes led to such masterworks as ‘That’s My Home,’ ‘Body and Soul,’ and ‘StarDust’” (The Editors). Not only did Armstrong change the way jazz was perceived, but he also played very astonishingly. The complexity and elegance that each and every one of his songs had helped people realize that jazz was not just another genre of music. More people started to respect him and other black musicians, no matter what music they endeavored in. It is true that he was very influential in music, but he also did it with great success. His accomplishments were exemplified when, “He had nineteen Top Ten songs including a number 1 hit, ‘Hello Dolly!’” (“Biography”). With jazz on the rise, Louis Armstrong continued to grow in fame. During the 1900s, a person of color creating multiple top hits was usually unheard of. Armstrong having top hits in a genre that was already not too well-known helps solidify how daring and significant his music has been to the development of jazz. 

Creating music like no other was Armstrong’s main focus. However, he endeavored in other activities like writing. For example, he “Wrote two autobiographies, more than ten magazine articles, hundreds of pages of memoirs, and thousands of letters” (“Louis”). This helps to explain how Louis Armstrong was not just limited to music. He made a difference across many forms of media. His ideas, talents, and how he expressed himself over many pieces of art helped spread positivity and inspire many people. Children growing up in a world of diversity really looked up to him. In fact, the name Louis Armstrong spread so quickly, and his reputation began to grow. He became such a hit that, “He made hit records like ‘Blueberry Hill’ and ‘Mack the Knife’ and performed in concert halls and nightclubs around the world. As an international star and goodwill ambassador, he was likely the most famous American on the planet” (Gherke). Armstrong was truly an inspiration to people all around the globe. While everyone knew and loved him, they listened to him. They listened to his ideas and what he was trying to tell people through art, whether it was music or literature. Through all of it, he was very successful and is still known today for how great he was. However, the talents do not stop there. As someone who is very versatile, Louis Armstrong, “Appeared in more than thirty films (over twenty were full-length features) as a gifted actor with superb comic timing and an unabashed joy of life” (“Louis”). Having a major impact on one skill or industry would be enough for most. For the inspirational Louis Armstrong, he wanted to continue to spread his great gifts and wise words to even more people through movies/television. Most people thought that Louis Armstrong was limited to the trumpet. However, his several talents and upbeat personality grew on many people all over the country and allowed him to solidify his impact on our society today.

Louis Armstrong was not just the king of jazz, but also a very skilled, moral man that revolutionized jazz and fought for civil rights. He created a new, faster type of Jazz that became very popular, he was one of the first musicians to speak out against racial discrimination, and was overall talented in many aspects of life. Even today people cannot get Satchomo’s songs out of their heads. All in all, after Louis Armstrong, jazz was never the same. He deserves to be considered one of the most important and influential African Americans of all time.