Louis+Armstrong

=**Louis Armstrong **= Photo courtesy of http://www.oneparticularwave.com/category/new-orleans/

**The Life of Louis Armstrong **
==  == Louis Armstrong was born on August 4, 1901, in New Orleans, Louisiana, the birthplace of jazz. He is considered one of the most important improviser in jazz. Armstrong had a great sense of humor and modest manner with a positive character that made everyone around him feel good. With his wide smile and instantly recognizable raspy voice, he won the hearts of people everywhere. He had an exciting and innovative style of playing that musicians imitate to this day. Throughout his career, Armstrong spread the language of jazz around the world, serving as an international ambassador of swing. His profound impact on the music of the 20th century continues into the 21st century.

Armstrong grew up in a poor family in a rough section of New Orleans. He started working at a very young age to support his family, singing on street corners for small amounts of money, working on a junk wagon, cleaning graves for tips, and selling coal. His travels around the city introduced him to all types of music. The music that surrounded him was a great source of inspiration. A born musician, Armstrong had already demonstrated his singing talents on the streets of the city and eventually taught himself to play the instrument the cornet. He received his first formal music instruction in the Colored Waif's Home for Boys, where he was supposedly confined for a year and a half as punishment for firing a gun into the air on New Year's Eve.

Joe "King" Oliver, a member of Kid Ory's band and one of the finest trumpet players around, became Armstrong's mentor. In 1922, Oliver invited Armstrong to Chicago to play second cornet in his Creole Jazz Band. As a member of Oliver's band, Armstrong began his lifetime of touring and recording. In 1924, he moved on to New York City to play with the Fletcher Henderson Orchestra at the Roseland Ballroom. Armstrong continued his touring and recording activities with Henderson's group and also made recordings with Sidney Bechet, Ma Rainey, and Bessie Smith. In 1925, Armstrong returned to Chicago and made his first recordings as a band leader with his Hot Five (and later his Hot Seven). During this period, his playing steadily improved, and his traveling and recording activities introduced his music to more and more people.

In 1929, Armstrong returned to New York City and made his first Broadway appearance. His recording of //Ain't Misbehavin'// introduced the use of a pop song as material for jazz interpretation, helping set the stage for the popular acceptance of jazz that would follow. During the next year, he performed in several U.S. states, including California, where he made his first film and radio appearances. In 1931, he first recorded //When It's Sleepytime Dow////n South//, the tune that became his theme song. In 1932, he toured England for three months, and during the next few years, continued his extensive domestic and international tours, including a lengthy stay in Paris.

In 1942, Armstrong married Lucille Wilson, a dancer at the Cotton Club where his band had a running engagement. The following year, they purchased a home in Corona, Queens, where they lived for the rest of their lives. In 1947, Armstrong formed a small ensemble called the All-Stars, a group of extraordinary players whose success revitalized mainstream jazz. During a trip to West Africa, Armstrong was greeted by more than one hundred thousand people. In the early 1960's, he continued to record, including two albums with Duke Ellington and the hit //Hello Dolly//, which reached number one on the Billboard charts. Armstrong performed regularly until recurring health problems gradually curtailed his trumpet playing and singing. Even in the last year of his life, he traveled to London twice, appeared on more than a dozen television shows, and performed at the Newport Jazz Festival to celebrate his 70th birthday. Up until a few days before his death, on July 6, 1971, he was setting up band rehearsals in preparation to perform for his beloved public. Louis Armstrong suffered from a heart attack which resulted in his death and it was printed in every newspaper around the World proving his role not only in music but also the love of the people.

“I see trees of green, red roses too, I see them bloom, for me and you, And I think to myself what a wonderful world.” This excerpt from the popular song by Louis Armstrong describes an environment of organic beauty. In which the world is surrounded by the simplistic splendor of nature. Armstrong’s view in life is a “wonderful world,” showing how he appreciates each and every day and the natural world. The period in time which he wrote this was a time of great rebirth and new life. This was known as the Harlem Renaissance when African-Americans began asserting their freedom to express themselves on their own terms, they explored their identities as black Americans, celebrated the black culture that had emerged out of slavery, as well as cultural ties to Africa. Louis Armstrong continues to have a great impact on jazz music even after decades have passed since his death but he will always be remembered as having that distinct voice with a smile always on his face.

Works Cited January, Brendan, and François Roca. "LOUIS ARMSTRONG." (Jan. 2003): 4. __History Reference Center__. EBSCO. 1 Mar. 2009. .

Kehoe. "Louis Armstrong." __Biography of Louis Armstrong__ (Nov. 1999): 124. __History Reference__ __Center__. EBSCO. 1 Mar. 2009. .

Ryan, James. "Louis Armstrong." __Louis Armstrong__ (Sep. 2005): 1-2. __History Reference Center__. EBSCO. 1 Mar. 2009. .

 What a Wonderful World and the Harlem Renaissance   The song “What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong is a very peaceful and happy song that relates in many ways to themes of the Harlem Renaissance. It relates to these themes by showing Armstrong’s perspective on how the future should be for African Americans and why this future looks bright. Some of these themes that are portrayed in this song include the rebirth of life, a hopeful and optimistic future for African Americans, and the hope for newborn babies to have much happiness during future times.

Throughout the entire song “What a Wonderful World”, Armstrong is trying to infer that a rebirth is taking place. Armstrong does this by using lines such as “I see trees of Green…. Red roses too. I see them bloom…. For me and you”. By using these types of lines during the song Armstrong is able to paint a picture in his listener’s minds of what the world should be like; peaceful and happy. He wants to paint this picture because of the rough times that many African Americans were going through because of the persisting trouble of racism that was ever present during the Harlem Renaissance.  Another theme that Armstrong relays to in “What a Wonderful World” is that of a hopeful and optimistic future for African Americans. Armstrong infers to this theme extremely well in the third stanza of his song where he states “I see friends shaking hands saying how do you do. They’re really saying, I love you”. This line relays to a hopeful future because it shows that his friends (African Americans) are content with the world and how they are being treated in it. It shows that they no longer have to worry about racism and other prejudice problems, but rather they should be content and should not worry at all.

The last theme that “What a Wonderful World” relates to is that of newborn babies having a promising future. The fourth stanza of this song reads “I hear babies cry, I watch them grow. They’ll learn much more, than I’ll ever know. And I think to myself, what a wonderful world”. This stanza is very important because it shows that Armstrong believes that those who follow him in life will not be troubled with the problems of his time such as racism and unfair treatment of the law. It shows that Armstrong is happy that his future generations will not have to go through what he had to while growing up.

The Harlem Renaissance was a rebirth of African American culture and in the song “What a Wonderful World”; Louis Armstrong is able to portray his thoughts on the future and how this renaissance is helping the world. He does this through the themes of a new life, an optimistic future for African Americans, and new hope for newborn babies. Armstrong was a true Renaissance man and his different songs will always serve as a beacon of hope for all of those that will listen.  Works Cited __Louis Armstrong: A Cultural Legacy__. 2000. 1 March 2009. <http://www.npg.si.edu/exh/armstrong/index.htm> __<span style="color: rgb(38, 42, 44);"> Modernism and the Harlem Renaissance __<span style="color: rgb(38, 42, 44);">. 1987. JSTOR. 1 Mar. 2009 <http://www.jstor.org/pss/2712631>.

<span style="text-align: center; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 200%;">**Musical Analysis of "What a Wonderful World"** <span style="font-size: 130%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> <span style="font-size: 120%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> ===<span style="font-size: 120%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> Louis Armstrong's single “What a Wonderful World” has many musical characteristics that help to define the unique sound that defines his work. An easy tempo and jazz based rhythms establish a familiar feel of the Harlem Renaissance while the major key tonality opens up the potential for expression of the content and satisfied mood. The theme of happiness and satisfaction is clearly augmented by the musical characteristics of the song. === ===<span style="font-size: 120%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> The lighthearted feel of “What a Wonderful World” can be attributed to the tempo set by the drummer from the beginning of the song. The piece is slow and relaxed, especially when compared to the fiery jazz that was also common of that time period. The tempo also lacks the quality of feeling rushed or forced; it has a laid-back feel that seems to flow on its own will rather than being pushed by the melodic instruments as many other songs are. The tempo clearly aids the feeling and message that Armstrong was trying to convey. === ===<span style="font-size: 120%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> Most popular music is based on a familiar rhythm, from 4 beat rock and roll to 3 beat waltz and many others that establish a particular kind of music. “What a Wonderful World” features a very common 4 beat slow jazz rhythm, with the emphasis on beats 1 and 3. The familiarity of this rhythm also adds to the warm and comfortable feel of the song. The rhythm has roots in African American culture, being commonly found in slave music. Armstrong's interpretation of this basic rhythm is a slower one, lending more to a mellow feel than the excited and lively themes of its origins. === ===<span style="font-size: 120%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> Also prominent is the major key tonality of the piece, lending to a bright and happy mood. The key of a song is among the most important factors in how an audience will respond to it; major keys establish a happy, optimistic or positive mood, while minor keys will lead to an ominous, gloomy, frightening, or otherwise negative feeling. A clearly established major key helps Armstrong convey the themes of optimism, happiness, and satisfaction while giving a comfortable and pleasing sound. === ===<span style="font-size: 120%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> The way a song is written can have as much influence on the listener's reaction as the lyrics, and Louis Armstrong's “What a Wonderful World” is no exception to that trend. The easy tempo, familiar rhythm, and strong major tonality greatly help the words express their full meaning, and still define Armstrong's distinctly jazz-based style. ===

<span style="font-size: 150%; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">**What a Wonderful World**

I see trees of green........ red roses too I see them bloom..... for me and for you And I think to myself.... what a wonderful world I see skies of blue..... clouds of white Bright blessed days....dark sacred nights And I think to myself .....what a wonderful world.

The colors of a rainbow.....so pretty ..in the sky Are also on the faces.....of people ..going by I see friends shaking hands.....sayin.. how do you do They’re really sayin......I love you.

I hear babies cry...... I watch them grow They’ll learn much more.....than I'll never know And I think to myself .....what a wonderful world

(instrumental break)

The colors of a rainbow.....so pretty ..in the sky Are there on the faces.....of people ..going by I see friends shaking hands.....sayin.. how do you do They’re really sayin...*spoken*(I ....love....you).

I hear babies cry...... I watch them grow And I think to myself .....what a wonderful world Yes I think to myself .......what a wonderful world.
 * spoken*(you know their gonna learn A whole lot more than I’ll never know)

Lyrics from http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/l/louis_armstrong/what_a_wonderful_world.html media type="youtube" key="vnRqYMTpXHc" height="316" width="375"media type="youtube" key="u_4Qg20TY4s" height="317" width="454" Videos courtesy of YouTube