Louis Armstrong, nicknamed Satchmo or Pops, was an American jazz trumpeter, singer and one of the pivotal and most influential figures in jazz music. Coming to prominence in the 1920s, Armstrong was a foundational influence in jazz, shifting the focus of the music from collective improvisation to solo performance. With his instantly recognizable gravelly voice, Armstrong was an influential singer, perhaps most famous for “What a Wonderful World.” Renowned for his charismatic stage presence and voice almost as much as for his trumpet-playing, Armstrong’s influence extends well beyond jazz music. Armstrong was one of the first truly popular African-American entertainers whose skin color was secondary to his music in an America that was severely racially divided. An active musician for over 50 years, he recorded numerous albums, including two with Ella Fitzgerald. Armstrong was born on August 4, 1901 and died on July 6, 1971.
Note: Interestingly, Louis Armstrong has a major tennis stadium named in his honor. Louis Armstrong Stadium, located in New York City’s Flushing Meadows Corona Park, is one of the U.S. Open venues. Armstrong lived nearby until his death. This year’s U.S. Open begins on August 31.
