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: โYou canโt play nothing on modern trumpet that doesnโt 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.
Silent Night
Louis Armstrong Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child
Holy Infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace
Silent night, holy night!
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ, the Savior is born
Christ, the Savior is born
Silent night, holy night
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth
The lyrics of Silent Night speak to the peace and serenity that accompany the birth of Jesus Christ. The song opens with a sense of calm and tranquility: everything is still and bright, and the Virgin Mary and her baby are at the center of it all. The emphasis on Mary and her child underscores the miracle of the Immaculate Conception - that is, Mary's conception of Jesus without the intervention of a biological father. This theme of the miraculous is carried throughout the song, as "heavenly hosts" sing to praise the newborn Christ. The third verse brings in the idea of light, which is often associated with Christ and his teachings; his "radiant beams" bring "renewed" life to humanity.
What is most significant about the song, however, is how these themes of peace, tranquility, and miracle have resonated with generations of listeners. While Silent Night began as a traditional German carol, it has since been translated into over 300 languages and has become one of the most recognizable hymns in the world. Its message is simple, yet profound; it conveys a sense of hope and renewal, even in the darkest of times. In many ways, the song has come to encapsulate the spirit of Christmas itself: a time of warmth, reflection, and love for our fellow human beings.
Line by Line Meaning
Silent night, holy night
A peaceful and sacred night
All is calm, all is bright
There is a serene and shining atmosphere
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child
Mary and baby Jesus are near
Holy Infant so tender and mild
Jesus, a pure and gentle baby
Sleep in heavenly peace
Rest in divine tranquility
Shepherds quake at the sight
The shepherds tremble at what they witness
Glories stream from heaven afar
The heavens are revealing great majesty
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Angelic voices sing praises
Christ, the Savior is born
Jesus, the one who will save humanity, is born
Son of God, love's pure light
Jesus is the offspring of God and the embodiment of love and light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
A glowing light emanates from Jesus' pure face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Redemption begins with the arrival of Jesus
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus, our savior and lord, is born on this night
Lyrics ยฉ O/B/O APRA AMCOS, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: FRANZ XAVER GRUBER, WILLIAM GURNEY ROTHERY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
J P
The world would be a better place if more people were like Louis Armstrong!
Fantasticifaction
That man's voice is as unique as James Brown. Nobody can ever replace him. In the coming 10 000 years his voice will still be listened to. People will treasure whatever computer can still play his music by the time we have the chips behind our eyes to just "look" at a play button to hear yet-to-be-made music.
Pr1meZin
Realmente a melhor musica que jรก ouvi ๐ญ
joshua Segundo
Louis armstrong wow now that's how a Christmas song is suppose to be sung. Beautiful
Dr. Totz
I can't believe that I actually celebrated Christmas before hearing this song. Every year when I hear it I smile....not as big as Louis is smiling but still....very large...and very heartfelt. God Bless you Mr Armstrong for such a wonderful rendition. It's not often that a cover surpasses the original but I dare say....bravo...bravo to you sir.
DucksDeLucks
Any song Louis sings is going to sound wonderful. Nobody can top him on any song, not to mention being the greatest trumpet player of all time! (To avoid dumb arguments, let's say nobody does it better!)
joshua Segundo
@DucksDeLucks I agree
uo u
This is simply the best version of this song. God bless you dear Armstrong..
Carlos Gonzales
My favorite genre of music is rap and hip hop, but you know what? This is priceless. A truly beautiful song.
G Nouveau
thoughit is an old song, his heartwarming voice won't be vanish in this world for good. i have loved to listen to this song for over 30 years. for me, so it is the very song that i can feel christmas. i will listen to it every year and make my heart warm even in cold snow. thank u for ur christmas gift. merry christmas and a happy new year from japan.