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.
Sittin' In the Dark
Louis Armstrong Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All at once I knew
Darlin' love was near
I thrill to my finger tips
I could feel your lips
Darlin' oh so near
The music was so entrancing
The lights all began to fade
But only my heart obeyed
A flame grew from just a spark
When I found romance in the dark with you
Louis Armstrong's "Sittin' in the Dark" is a beautiful love song about the feeling of finding love in unexpected places. The lyrics are full of romantic imagery and sensations, and the way that Armstrong sings them adds to the emotional impact of the song. The first two lines set the scene perfectly, with the singer sitting in the dark with their lover and realizing that they are in love. The feeling is electric, with the singer describing the sensation of their lover's lips on their own and the thrill that runs through their body.
Line by Line Meaning
Romance in the dark with you
Being with you in the darkness, in an environment that ignites the inner emotions and feelings associated with romantic love.
All at once I knew
Immediately, I was certain about how I feel for you, without any second thoughts or confusion.
Darlin' love was near
The closeness, sweetness, and passion we shared implied that we are falling in love with each other.
I thrill to my finger tips
I cannot control, but rather am overwhelmed by the excitement, emotion, and stimulation deep inside me.
I could feel your lips
I sense your proximity and intimacy, the taste and tenderness of your kiss and the expression of your love.
Darlin' oh so near
You feel as though you are almost right next to me, that our connection is heart-touchingly up-close and personal.
The music was so entrancing
The rhythm, melody, and lyrics of the music that accompanied us are spellbinding, captivating and irresistible.
The lights all began to fade
The light of day is gradually disappearing, replaced by the allure of a night full of potential and possibilities.
I said to myself keep dancing
Despite realizing the unspoken affection between us, I encouraged myself to continue things as they are, rejoicing in our moments of love.
But only my heart obeyed
Even if my mind logically tells me to do something, my heart and my feelings towards you naturally override my thoughts.
A flame grew from just a spark
The strong feeling of communion and passion from a tiny, initial encounter or impression that caught fire, resulting in a smoldering love affair.
When I found romance in the dark with you
The discovery of deep romantic connection in the night-time darkness that's absent in daylight, with you as my loving partner in this awe-inspiring experience.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: LILLIAN GREEN, WILLIAM LEE CONLEY BROONZY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
TChou
I enjoy Louis Armstrong and this particular song I found from Criminal minds. Well used in that ep (which was freggan awesome XD) great 'villan of the week' and killer ending!
jm 91
Would you look at that? I've just searched this song after watching criminal minds right now. I believe the episode is Season 3/episode 8 where Penelope was shot.
Putrid Possum
ME TO MAN
23pounce
That's where I first heard it as well, and I agree it was well used.
DouchebagAssholeify
The "Lucky" episode was one of the few episodes of any TV program that actually got me a little creeped out. The serial killers actor was perfect, it was really convincing.
Malefoi
Wonderful <3 Can someone give me the lyrics?
Sir Xi Gutierrez von Wallenstein VI
Now I will associate this song to cannibalistic devil stuff.
dwarmen
yes finally only song of this on youtube thank you man
Thomas Sinerchio
best part is the guy who played Floyd was Jamie Kennedy.
BrendaN Forester
Best known as Randy from the Scream movies. Hard to believe that was him, isn't it?