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.
Sunny Side Of The Street Part 2
Louis Armstrong Lyrics
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Leave your worries on the doorstep
Life can be so sweet
On the sunny side of the street
Can't you hear the pitter-pat?
And that happy tune is your step
Life can be complete
I used to walk in the shade with my blues on parade
But I'm not afraid, this rover's crossed over
If I never had a cent
I'd be rich as Rockefeller
Gold dust at my feet
On the sunny side of the street
I used to walk in the shade with them blues on parade
Now I'm not afraid; this rover has crossed over
Now if I never made one cent
I'll still be rich as Rockefeller
There will be gold dust at my feet
On the sunny
On the sunny, sunny side of the street
The lyrics of Louis Armstrong and His All Stars' "On the Sunny Side of the Street Part 2" are all about positivity and optimism even in the face of hardship. The first stanza encourages listeners to leave their worries behind and enjoy life's sweetness on the "sunny side of the street." The second stanza continues with the theme of happiness, describing the sound of your happy steps and the completeness that can be found on the sunny side of the street.
The third stanza talks about a personal transformation, as the singer confesses to previously living in the shade with their "blues on parade." However, the singer announces that they are no longer afraid and have "crossed over" to the sunny side of the street. The final stanza reiterates the sentiment that even without money, one can still feel rich and have a golden life by staying focused on the positive aspects of life.
Overall, this song serves as a reminder to focus on the bright side of life, even when it may seem difficult. It encourages listeners to let go of their worries, take a walk in the sun, and appreciate the richness of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Grab your coat and get your hat
Get ready and prepare to leave.
Leave your worries on the doorstep
Leave all your troubles behind and don't let them affect you.
Life can be so sweet
Life can be very enjoyable at times.
On the sunny side of the street
When you have a positive attitude and outlook on life.
Can't you hear the pitter-pat?
Can't you feel the joy and happiness in the air?
And that happy tune is your step
The rhythm and melody of life can have a good effect on one's mood and feelings.
Life can be complete
Life can be rich and full of satisfaction.
I used to walk in the shade with my blues on parade
I used to feel unhappy and sad most of the time.
But I'm not afraid, this rover's crossed over
I'm not scared anymore and have found a way to be happy and content.
If I never had a cent
Even if I didn't have any money.
I'd be rich as Rockefeller
I would still feel wealthy and satisfied.
Gold dust at my feet
I would feel as though I have everything I need and more.
On the sunny side of the street
When you have a positive attitude and outlook on life.
Now if I never made one cent
Even if I didn't earn any money.
I'll still be rich as Rockefeller
I would still have a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment.
There will be gold dust at my feet
I would still feel as though I have everything I need and more.
On the sunny
When life is good.
On the sunny, sunny side of the street
Having a positive outlook and attitude can lead to a fulfilling and happy life.
Lyrics © Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Dorothy Fields, Jimmy McHugh
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