Coming to prominence in the 1920s as an inventive trumpet and cornet player, 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 also an influential singer, demonstrating great dexterity as an improviser, bending the lyrics and melody of a song for expressive purposes. He was also skilled at scat singing (vocalizing using sounds and syllables instead of actual lyrics).
Renowned for his charismatic stage presence and voice almost as much as for his trumpet-playing, Armstrong's influence extends well beyond jazz music, and by the end of his career in the 1960s, he was widely regarded as a profound influence on popular music in general. Armstrong was one of the first truly popular African-American entertainers to "cross over", whose skin-color was secondary to his music in an America that was severely racially divided. He rarely publicly politicized his race, often to the dismay of fellow African-Americans, but took a well-publicized stand for desegregation during the Little Rock Crisis. His artistry and personality allowed him socially acceptable access to the upper echelons of American society that were highly restricted for a black man.
Armstrong was born and brought up in New Orleans, a culturally diverse town with a unique musical mix of creole, ragtime, marching bands, and blues. Although from an early age he was able to play music professionally, he didn't travel far from New Orleans until 1922, when he went to Chicago to join his mentor, King Oliver. Oliver's band played primitive jazz, a hotter style of ragtime, with looser rhythms and more improvisation, and Armstrong's role was mostly backing. Slow to promote himself, he was eventually persuaded by his wife Lil Hardin to leave Oliver, and In 1924 he went to New York to join the Fletcher Henderson Orchestra. At the time, there were a few other artists using the rhythmic innovations of the New Orleans style, but none did it with the energy and brilliance of Armstrong, and he quickly became a sensation among New York musicians. Back in Chicago in 1925, he made his first recordings with his own group, Louis Armstrong and his Hot Five, and these became not only popular hits but also models for the first generation of jazz musicians, trumpeters or otherwise.
Other hits followed through the twenties and thirties, as well as troubles: crooked managers, lip injuries, mob entanglements, failed big-band ventures. As jazz styles changed, though, musical purists never lost any respect for him -- although they were sometimes irritated by his hammy onstage persona. Around the late forties, with the help of a good manager, Armstrong's business affairs finally stablilized, and he began to be seen as an elder statesman of American popular entertainment, appearing in Hollywood films, touring Asia and Europe, and dislodging The Beatles from the number-one position with Hello Dolly". Today many people may know him as a singer (a good one), but as Miles Davis said: “You can’t play nothing on modern trumpet that doesn’t come from him."
The 62-year-old Armstrong became the oldest act to top the US charts when "Hello Dolly" reached #1 in 1964. Four years later Satchmo also became the oldest artist to record a UK #1, when "What a Wonderful World" hit the top spot.
A Sinner Kissed An Angel
Louis Armstrong Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
One night perfect for romancing,
The night a sinner kissed an angel,
He wanted thrills, she wanted love,
Oh but his sighs were tender
As he begged her to surrender,
The night a sinner kissed an angel,
How was she to know that every lovely vow
Was part of the game he was playing,
But to his surprise he realized
Somehow he meant every word he was saying.
Yes, miracles can happen,
I know 'cause I saw what happened
That night a sinner kissed an angel,
That was the night I fell in love.
The lyrics of Louis Armstrong's song "A Sinner Kissed An Angel" tell the story of a sinner and an angel coming together on a magical night. The stars in the sky set the scene, creating an atmosphere perfect for romance and passion. The sinner, driven by his desire for thrills, encounters the angel who seeks love. Despite their different intentions, the sinner's sighs are tender, as he pleads for the angel's surrender. The moment unfolds as the sinner kisses the angel, and she, believing it to be an act of true love, reciprocates.
However, unbeknownst to her, the sinner's declarations of love were all part of a deceptive game he was playing. Yet, to his surprise, he begins to realize that he genuinely means every word he's saying. This realization challenges his initial intentions and leads to a deeper understanding of his feelings. The song emphasizes that miracles can happen, as witnessed by the transformation that occurs when a sinner kisses an angel. In this case, the sinner falls in love, marking a significant shift in his perspective and emotions.
Overall, the lyrics explore themes of unexpected connections, the power of love to change individuals, and the potential for redemption.
Line by Line Meaning
Stars in the sky were dancing
The atmosphere was filled with a magical and mesmerizing feeling
One night perfect for romancing
The particular evening was ideal for experiencing romantic emotions and connections
The night a sinner kissed an angel
During that time, a person with a sinful past shared a heartfelt and pure moment with an innocent and virtuous individual
He wanted thrills, she wanted love
While he sought excitement and temporary pleasures, she desired genuine and lasting affection
Oh but his sighs were tender
Yet, his expressions of longing and desire were gentle and sincere
As he begged her to surrender
He pleaded with her to let go of her reservations and embrace the connection they shared
The night a sinner kissed an angel
This event marked the time when a person with a troubled past engaged in a profound and transformative experience with an ethereal and pure being
And she believed that it was love
She genuinely believed that what they had between them was a true and genuine love
How was she to know that every lovely vow
She had no way of knowing that each beautiful promise he made
Was part of the game he was playing
Was simply a move in the manipulative game he was playing
But to his surprise he realized
However, to his astonishment, he came to the realization
Somehow he meant every word he was saying
That deep down, he truly meant every single word he uttered
Yes, miracles can happen
Indeed, extraordinary and unexpected events can take place
I know 'cause I saw what happened
I can confidently say this because I witnessed firsthand what transpired
That night a sinner kissed an angel
During that very night, a person burdened by their past engaged in a profound and transformative encounter with a pure and celestial being
That was the night I fell in love
That was the evening when I myself fell deeply in love
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MACK DAVID, Larry Shayne
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Anonymous
on What A Wonderful World
What A Wonderful World - Casey Abrams - Lyrics
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
I see skies of blue
And clouds of white
The bright blessed day
The dark sacred night
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
Singing how do you do
They're really singing
I love you
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
Musical Interlude
The colors of the rainbow
So pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces
Of people going by
I see friends shaking hands
Singing how do you do
They're really singing
I love you
I hear babies cry
I watch them grow
They goin’ learn much more
Than I'll ever know
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world
I think to myself
What a wonderful world