Louis Armstrong And The Great Depression

Singers do more than just go on stage and sing. Jazz singers like Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie, and Louis Armstrong have made many contribution during the great depression. Like many other singers Ella Fitzgerald had contributed to want things in her time. First, when jazz wasn’t strong, she thried with it. When Bebep wasn’t getting attention, Ella took matters into her own hands and made a masterpiece of it bringing more people to Bebep (“Nicholson”). Not only did Ella encourage her audience, but she also inspired artists little Bennett Goolin to make a band, but no one was as talented as Ella (“Bahl”1). Second, Ella also became the most popular female singer at that time. Infact her song “ A Tisket, A Tasket” was the greatest

. Even though people lost all of their belongings such as jobs, homes, and money, Louis Armstrong was always there impacting people with his great jazz recordings and also his performances. Louis Armstrong was the first soloist to play jazz music. He attended to play with king Oliver at the Lincoln Gardens in chicago and he emerged as a highly inventive jazz soloist in the 1920’s (“Pick”1). Also he was so talented, that he even had a good voice while playing his trumpet, and that led him playing solo. However, Louis Armstrong talent and impact on jazz has spread across the world, and that was because of his top recordings. His first recording was with his own group named the “Hot Five” and began to record larger ensembles (“Pick”2). Then Louis Armstrong records one of the most famous jazz songs ever recorded called “West End Blue” and that became the most popular jazz music at the time (“History”). Throughout the accomplishments and his top famous recordings, Louis Armstrong was well on his way of becoming an american superstar. During the 1930s, Louis Armstrong developed a sparser, leaner style noted for his incredible high note playing and that made him become really popular in U.S (“Pick”3).Then he migrated from a straight diet of jazz and blues, taking on pop songs of the 30s, like “He's a Son of the South,”

The only thing that brought them hope was the sound of jazz and the person that made it possible was Count Basie aka William James Basie. When people talk about the swing era, people think of Count Basie. He shaped the big-band sound that defined the swing era (“Parker”1). This is because of all the great songs he wrote. Count Basie’s greatest impact came from his songs. “Dark Rapture” impacted the Great Depression just like many other songs but this one had strong rhythm and lyrics that just made people dance (“Parker”2). Many people in the Great Depression had hardships but most people knew “that you can't be sad and dance at the same time” (Reinhardt and Ganzel). Another reason history remembers Count Basie is because of his great achievements. He was in many great groups with well known artists such as Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong (“Parker”2). In addition, he was a well-known pianist that made it big in the Kansas City club (“Parker”3). Overall, his influence in the swing era, his songs, and achievements brought people hope and brought recognition of other jazz