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.
Keepin
Louis Armstrong Lyrics
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If you're not by my side
I stay home by my radio
But I'm satisfied
All my flirtin' days are gone
On the level from now on
Don't go for any excitement now
All my opinions have changed somehow
Old-fashioned as can be
When you really learn to care
There's a thrill in Solitaire
Keepin' out of mischief now
Really am in love, and how!
I'm through playing with fire
It's you whom I desire
All the world can plainly see
You're the only one for me
I've told them in advance
They can't break up our romance
Living up to every vow
I'm keepin' out of mischief now
All the world can plainly see
That you're the only one for me
Say I've told them, told them in advance
That they can't break up our romance
Living up to every vow
I'm keepin', keepin' out of mischief now
The lyrics of Louis Armstrong & his All Stars's song "Keepin' Out Of Mischief Now" describe a newfound sense of contentment and commitment in a romantic relationship. The singer has abandoned their former flirtatious ways and embraced a more old-fashioned approach to love. They declare their love for their partner and vow to stay loyal, rejecting any temptation or excitement that may arise. The singer repeats the phrase "Keepin' out of mischief now" as a mantra to remind themselves of their commitment.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't even go to a movie show
I don't want to do anything without you
If you're not by my side
I need you with me always
I stay home by my radio
I find comfort in listening to music alone
But I'm satisfied
As long as I have you, I am content
All my flirtin' days are gone
I am committed to you now and won't stray
On the level from now on
I am being honest and sincere with you
Don't go for any excitement now
I don't need anything else to make me happy
Books are my best company
I enjoy reading and gaining knowledge
All my opinions have changed somehow
I see things differently now that I am in love
Old-fashioned as can be
I prefer traditional ideas and values
When you really learn to care
The more you care for someone, the more you understand them
There's a thrill in Solitaire
I find joy in spending time alone because I have you in my heart
Keepin' out of mischief now
I am avoiding trouble and staying true to you
Really am in love, and how!
I am deeply in love with you
I'm through playing with fire
I won't risk losing you by engaging in dangerous behavior
It's you whom I desire
You are the only one I want
All the world can plainly see
Everyone can tell how much I love you
You're the only one for me
I only have eyes for you
I've told them in advance
I have warned others not to interfere with our relationship
They can't break up our romance
No one can come between us
Living up to every vow
I am keeping my promises to you
I'm keepin', keepin' out of mischief now
I am committed to you and avoiding any trouble
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: ANDY RAZAF, THOMAS 'FATS' WALLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Quinn W. Johnson
I am here because Elvis Costello said he would want this played at his funeral.
John Frodsham
Yup
Gary Waite
Ditto
John Law
ME TOO
Dick Head
Quinn Johnson Are you kidding? Complete same!! Had to hear it
boomerang905
The best Trumpet player ever. He was always so old to me but now that I'm a senior l realize his soulful genius. My mom and dad met him. Nice man.
honoredutrey
Definitely the best ever.
Butch 78
Super number. What can one say about Louis. How did his unique tone come to be. I've been a jazz fan all my life and first heard him as a kid on Dad's 78s playing with The Hot Five and Seven.
Oumy Neferti
Timeless ❤️
Tad Ulrich
This is the alternate take of this tune from the Satch Plays Fats album. A great song from a great album.