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.
The Sunshine Of Love
Louis Armstrong Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where there is laughter, then you can't be far
You're in my dreams every night
Oh how I long to hold you tight, I need you
I'll follow you dear from here to a star
Your lips are honey but sweeter by far
From now till forever I'll keep dreamin' of
You and the sunshine of love (the sunshine of love)
Where there is laughter, then you can't be far
Yes, you're in my dreams every night
Mmm, how I long to a-hold a-you tight
I'll follow you dear from here to a star
Your lips are honey but sweeter by far
Yes now until forever I'll keep dreamin' of
You and the sunshine of love
The lyrics of Louis Armstrong's song The Sunshine Of Love talks about the intense longing and yearning of a lover for their beloved. The opening lines “Where there is sunshine, oh that's where you are, Where there is laughter, then you can't be far” highlights the centrality of the lover in the existence and joy of the singer. The constant memory of the lover dreams suggests how much the singer misses the beloved. The lines “Your lips are honey but sweeter by far” depicts the sweetness and wonderfulness of the lover, highlighting their irresistible nature.
The singer concludes by stating that he will follow the beloved everywhere and will always dream of them, suggesting his eternal commitment to loving the beloved. The mention of the “sunshine of love” indicates that their love is a source of light and joy, creating a positive and vibrant atmosphere all around them.
Overall, Louis Armstrong's song The Sunshine Of Love talks about the intense yearning and commitment of a lover to their beloved. It highlights the powerful nature of love that creates a joyful atmosphere around the lovers, bringing out the best in them.
Line by Line Meaning
Where there is sunshine, oh that's where you are
You bring light and warmth into my life, wherever you go.
Where there is laughter, then you can't be far
I associate happiness and joy with you, and I know you are never too far away in spirit.
You're in my dreams every night
Even when I am not with you physically, you are always in my thoughts and dreams.
Oh how I long to hold you tight, I need you
The desire to be close to you and feel your embrace is strong and essential to me.
I'll follow you dear from here to a star
I am committed to pursuing you and going wherever life takes us together, no matter how far or difficult the journey may be.
Your lips are honey but sweeter by far
Your kisses are wonderful and delicious, but the sweetness of your character and presence is even greater.
From now till forever I'll keep dreamin' of
My love and thoughts of you will continue to fill my heart and mind for eternity.
You and the sunshine of love (the sunshine of love)
Together we radiate love and positivity, just like the shining warmth and light of the sun.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, CARLIN AMERICA INC
Written by: BOB JR THIELE, CHESTER GIERLACH, LEONARD WHITCUP
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Paola GCh
Wow Armstrong always surprises me with the love he was able to convey in his songs. Such a beautiful song! On my favorites already
Guillermo Hourcade
I've just heard it on the radio and found here. A pleasure from beginning to end.
heard it on the radio
su pretinha
SUNSHINE SUZINHA FLOR AMOR MEU AMOR MEU SIIM DA SUZINHA TIPO MOGNO MEU MAXUDO LIVREE DE MÁSCARAS LIBERDADE ZERO FANTASIA ZERO TRAIRAGEM ZERO BADERNA TÔ LONGE SOU DE OUTRA ORIGEM SUSSUE
SUELI Da silva
EEEITAAAH EEEITAAAHH QUE SAUDADES EEIITAAHH QUEM?? OUVINDO ESTE OURO DE MEU PRETINHO AMADINHO KE SE FOI NÓS BRASILEIROS SOMOS LOUCOS POR ESTE ASTRO DO TROMPETW E TAMBÉM SUAS MUSICAS QUE APAIXONANTE. ATÉ SEEEMPRE LIIINDO INESQUECÍVEL SUEFESTA BRAVA SAUDADES SAUDADES SUIIINHA
su pretinha
LOUIS ARMSTRONG CANTA SIIM MEU SORRISO SUAVE BOM DA SUSSUFERA
Clarke Laidlaw
'Where there is sunshine,that's where you are'.
orangehornet57
This is the song he recorded before What A Wonderful World. It's nice too.
jazzwatch64
4 stars!!!!!
su pretinha
NÃO. NÃO. DESTA. VEZ. TÁ BOM MEUS AMORES E MILHÕES DE SEGUIDORES OK?? ALARME FALSO SUNSHINE SUFERINHA ONÇA
su pretinha
SUNSHINE SUSSUUU SUZINHA PRESENTE DEMOREI TE ENTENDER