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.
When a Man Loves a Woman
Louis Armstrong Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Doing what he can
But what does she care
When a woman loves a man
She'll just string along
All through thick and thin
Till his ship comes in
It's always that way
She'll be the first one to praise him
When he's goin' strong
The last one to blame him
When everything's wrong
It's such a one-sided game that they play
But women are funny that way
Tell her she's a fool
She'll say yes, I know
But I love him so
And that's how it goes
When a woman loves a man
Tel I her she's a fool
She'll say yes, I know
But I love him so
And that's how if goes
When a woman loves a man
Louis Armstrong's When a Man Loves a Woman is a classic love song that tells the story of a man who does everything he can for the woman he loves, while the woman remains devoted to him no matter what. The opening lines of the song set the tone for the rest of the lyrics, which are filled with heartfelt, yet simple poetry. Armstrong sings of a man who may not be much in the eyes of others, but to the woman he loves, he is everything. The theme of devotion is echoed throughout the song, with the woman willing to stand by her man through thick and thin.
The lyrics portray a unique aspect of love where a woman is willing to praise her man openly when he's doing well but always stays back to shield him when trouble arises. The song reflects deeply on what it actually means when a woman loves a man. It's an unwavering commitment to love and support one's partner, even when things are difficult. The lines, "It's such a one-sided game that they play, but women are funny that way," suggests that women are more selfless in love and put their partner's needs before their own.
In conclusion, Louis Armstrong's When a Man Loves a Woman is a timeless song that captures the raw emotion of love. The lyrics, while simple, are profound in capturing the essence of what it means to truly love someone unconditionally. This song can be deciphered as an ode to the selfless, unconditional love that exists between two people in a relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Maybe he's not much, just another man
This man may not have a lot to offer, just like any other man.
Doing what he can
He's trying his best to make her happy.
But what does she care
She doesn't care about his shortcomings because she loves him.
When a woman loves a man
The power of a woman's love is unmatched.
She'll just string along
She'll stick by his side no matter what happens.
All through thick and thin
She'll support him in the good times and bad.
Till his ship comes in
She'll be there for him until he achieves his goals.
It's always that way
This is just how it is when a woman loves a man.
She'll be the first one to praise him
She'll lift him up when he's successful.
When he's goin' strong
When he's doing well in life.
The last one to blame him
She won't blame him when things go wrong.
When everything's wrong
Even when everything is falling apart.
It's such a one-sided game that they play
Love is often one-sided with one person giving more than the other.
But women are funny that way
Women have a special way of expressing their love.
Tell her she's a fool
Even if she's seen as foolish for loving him.
She'll say yes, I know
She acknowledges her devotion even when it doesn't make sense.
But I love him so
Her love for him is more important than anything else.
And that's how it goes
This is just how love works when a woman loves a man.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BERNARD D. HANIGHEN, GORDON JENKINS, JOHNNY MERCER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@daniellematteo3779
My grandpa used to sing this to my grandmother and no matter where they were even driving he would pull over and drag her out of the car to dance. He used to sing it to her with such conviction he loved her more than life. He passed on in 2013 and grandma is now very sick and on her way out. I came here to listen to this to remind myself when it’s her time to cross over he will be there probably with the real Percy singing and dancing. I need to listen to this to remind myself she’s going to be in a better place with her love. Life can be so heartbreaking sometimes
@GoodnightGoodbye1223
Readin this made me cry
@russbentley8306
@@GoodnightGoodbye1223 Me too...
@sandrabrooks5275
So heartbreaking story 💔 😢
@kpakpooti1
True love, that is hard to find nowadays
@DrDennis
God bless grandma
@patricianapier5860
My younger brother loved this song!!! every now and again,i will play it for old times sake!!! he was killed in Vietnam at 19 yrs old while serving in the Marines in 1969--Heres to you Darrel!!
@ikechukwunjoku-uw7br
God rest his soul.
@teritufano4576
Thank You for your Service 🙏
@janiswoolf2886
Darrell had excellent taste in music!! I’m sure you miss him !! He’ll see you in heaven ☮️✝️🙏