Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong can be considered by some as the greatest jazz musician of all time. Armstrong, nicknamed "Satchmo," "Pops" and later, "Ambassador Satch," was born on August 4, 1901, in New Orleans, Louisiana; he learned to play the cornet in reform school. From then on he fell in love with music. When he was released from reform school, he immediately began dreaming of a life making music. Though he had a turbulent life after his days in Reform school, often working small jobs to stay afloat, Armstrong began earning a reputation as a fine blues player. Joe "King" Oliver, another cornet player, began mentoring the young Armstrong, showing him pointers on the horn and creating one of the most famous artist of his time. (John Carroll University). LT
"What a Wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong
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, and clouds of white. The bright blessed days, the dark sacred nights. And I think to myself "What a wonderful world." The colors of the rainbow, so pretty in the sky, Are also on the faces of people going by. I see friends shaking hands, saying "how do you do?" They're really saying "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." Yes I think to myself, "What a wonderful world." |
It Don’t Mean a Thing If It Ain’t Got That Swing
What good is melody? What good is music If it ain't possessing something sweet? It ain't the melody, It ain't the music, There's something else that makes this song complete. It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing Well it don't mean a thing all you got to do is sing It makes no difference if it's sweet or hot Just give that rhythm ev-ry-thing you got YES It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing It don't mean a thing It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing boy I said it don't mean a thing and all you got to do is sing Now it makes no difference if it's sweet or hot Just give that rhythm ev-ry-thing you got OHH It don't mean a thing boy, if it ain't got-a-that-a-swing. Show me! |
King Joe Oliver
Joe “King” Oliver was not only remembered as Louis Armstrong’s mentor, but also as an enchanting classic Creole Jazz Band recorder and a fellow, brilliant cornet player. was Born and raised in Louisiana in 1885, Oliver learned is first instrument, the trombone, before switching to the cornet. Like many musicians, originated from plantations, he had no formal musical education. Yet the blasts of his cornet brought a new sound to the horn: a vocal quality (Gerler). LT
Other Musicians
Duke Ellington: he influenced millions of people around the
world, giving American music its own sound. In
his 50 year career, he played over 20,000 performances in Europe, Latin
America, the Middle East, and Asia. (Ellington).
Ella Fitzgerald: Through fifty-eight years of performing, thirteen Grammys and more than forty million records sold, Fitzgerald elevated swing, bebop, and ballads to their highest potential in the 1920s. She was considered the "First Lady of Song" (PBS).
Bessie Smith: Smith can be considered one of the greatest of the vaudeville blues singers; with every performance she gave, she brought the emotional intensity and expression of blues singing into the jazz repertory with excellent artistry (PBS). LT
Ella Fitzgerald: Through fifty-eight years of performing, thirteen Grammys and more than forty million records sold, Fitzgerald elevated swing, bebop, and ballads to their highest potential in the 1920s. She was considered the "First Lady of Song" (PBS).
Bessie Smith: Smith can be considered one of the greatest of the vaudeville blues singers; with every performance she gave, she brought the emotional intensity and expression of blues singing into the jazz repertory with excellent artistry (PBS). LT