Louis Armstrong Accomplishments

As a few may know, jazz originated right in New Orleans in the 19th century. Some people find jazz dull and boring, while others find it quite soothing and helped them get through hard ships. It was made for people to of course enjoy, put their problem to the side, and have a marvelous time. There’s two outstanding jazz artists that come from two completely different backgrounds, sound completely different, and how similar their style of performance was. Allow me two introduce these two gentlemen as Louis Armstrong and Frank Sinatra.

Over thousands of people know about Louis Armstrong and Frank Sinatra. But do they who these gentlemen are? Where they grew up? How their childhood was? Son of both Willie and Maryann Armstrong, who went by Little

Born in his parents’ home; a wooden shack “at 723 Jane Alley, located on the edge of “black Storyville,”. (Teachout 29) His father excluded himself out of Louis’ life right after being born on August 4, 1901 in New Orleans, Louisiana. After his birth his mother gave Louis to his grandmother, Josephine Armstrong. With his father leaving his mother, older sister Beatrice and himself his mother worked hard to take care of them. Louis wasn’t sure what his mother did exactly to take care of them. “she was almost certainly working as a prostitute on Perdido Street”. (Teachout 29) Just imagine what so many single moms have gone through just to provide not for themselves but for their children. Louis stayed with his grandmother while all of this went on, and even though they lived in a rough neighborhood similar Perdido Street, his grandmother made sure she kept Louis away from hustlers and pimps as much as she could and had him go to Sunday school and attend kindergarten. Frank on the other hand, or should I say Francis Albert Sinatra was born in “an Italian neighborhood in Hoboken, New Jersey”. (Taraborrelli vii) on December 12th, 1915

You have acid jazz, contemporary jazz, traditional pop jazz, Latin jazz, Dixieland, smooth jazz, and swing, just to name a few. Now you probably didn’t know that Louis Armstrong sang and played Dixieland jazz, swing and traditional pop with his vocals and his trumpet. While Frank used just his voice as an instrument and sang traditional pop and swing jazz. While both artists’ music was phenomenal their songs both carried different feelings. Franks music made you want to get up and find someone to cruise with; it makes you feel like you’re on cloud nine, and makes you want to fall in love all over again. Louis gives you a totally different vibe; starting with his voice, to the song lyrics, to the music his trumpet makes. Louis’ music make you forget about your problems and allow you to enjoy the music for what it is. It puts you in a different mood.

Coming from two different backgrounds and different lifestyles also comes with a different style of stage performance. Looking at various videos of performances from both Armstrong and Sinatra I thought that Frank and Louis’ performance style would be nothing alike. To my astonishment, they both share a similar style. During all their live performances, they both have a live orchestra, lively audience, and even a multi-racial audience. These talented gentlemen’s music was clearly made for any and