ipl-logo

Struggles Of Art Tatum, Louis Armstrong, And Societal Unreadiness

1845 Words8 Pages

Hope Obolanle
April 16, 2023
AFRST 160: History of Jazz
Midterm Essay
The Racial Struggles of Art Tatum, Louis Armstrong, and Billie Holiday and Societal Unreadiness

Introduction Jazz music originated from the cultural collision in African American communities of New Orleans. In addition to the multitudes of languages from New Orleans in the 1920s, the altering of harmonies and changing the tone of functional music formed the foundation of jazz. The complex harmonies and legato music gave rise to many great pianists, singers, and trumpeters like Art Tatum, Billie Holiday, and Louis Armstrong. Since, jazz was rooted in African American culture many artists faced racism, discrimination, and marginalization. Despite their immense talent, …show more content…

Tatum was bornin Toledo, Ohio with milk cataracts in both eyes, and went through surgery repairing vision in one eye which was later injured by a holdup man rendering Tatum totally blind. Despite this disability Tatum developed patterns of fast runs and his own techniques with influences from James P Johnson and Fats Walker. He added to stride and classical piano to create his own style where he can start with a moderate pitch and end with multiple runs with various pitches. In his musical work “Over the Rainbow” Tatum engages the audience with an assembly of accelerated runs, steady chords, and high tones inciting a light, positive …show more content…

One classical pianist critic even said “Sure, Art's great, but he fingers the keys the wrong way." During this time many white critics wanted jazz music to follow the conventions of music and preferred a piano to sound orthodox without the improvisation, and embroidery. People did not want to see a blind black man make music use techniques others deemed as impossible. Tatum did not give people what they could digest and bring himself to their level, he showed people raw talent and hard work which other could not comprehend. At times Tatum would express his disdain for the discrimination he is facing, "Did you hear so-and-so's latest record? What a waste of wax, for Christ's sake! There must be over 2,000 fellows who can play more than this cat. But you see who he's recording for? It will probably sell half a million copies while Willie the Lion just sits back smoking his cigar, without a gig. When will it end?" White critics couldn’t handle the stress that a black person could out play a white person, especially in a society that deems white people are supreme. Many people tried to belittle Tatum’s talent because it did not “fit” comfortably in jazz because his playing was not to satisfy fragile white men. Tatum showed resilience and continued playing and pursed his passion, and society was unprepared to appreciate Tatum and his

Show More
Related

How Did Gregory Hines Impact Society

1321 Words | 6 Pages

He introduced thousands to a new world; a world of escape, entertainment and exploration. Maurice Hines, Gregory Hines’ brother, in an interview talked about how dance was also their escape, specifically their escape from racism, ”We loved dance because we were so young and we were experiencing those first signs of racism. And in dance it was very clear to us even though nobody had to tell us that dancers have no racism. All they cared about was if you can dance. ”(Nichols par 10).

Read More

How Did Louis Armstrong Influence Jazz

543 Words | 3 Pages

Louis Armstrong had a tremendous impact on history of American Jazz. As a trumpeter, singer, and soloist, he had acquired a reputation in his lifetime as “the greatest trumpet player who had ever lived.” His numerous accomplishments, even in an America where African-Americans rarely found success, propelled him to be one of the most notable Jazz musicians. Armstrong’s story began in 1912, in his hometown of New Orleans. He fired his stepfather’s gun in the air on New Year’s eve, and was immediately arrested and taken to Colored Waif's Home for Boys.

Read More

How Did Locke Contribute To The Harlem Renaissance

1578 Words | 7 Pages

In the realm of music, African Americans celebrated blues music. The blues music that spread during the 1920s “expressed the longings and philosophical perspectives of the black working class” (). In addition to blues music, jazz became a dominant musical form which established Harlem as an exciting cultural center, resulting in abundant dance halls created where famous musicians such as the trumpeter Louis Armstrong, pianist Duke Ellington, and pianist Fats Waller could perform their unique solos and share their musical talents in an environment that embraced the freedom of self-expression. These developments that occurred in this period called the Jazz Age indeed empowered African Americans to use their musical talents in an effort to strengthen their traditions, culture, and racial status in an anti-black prejudiced society: “"Wild Dreams of Bringing Glory and Honor to the Negro Race," addresses the composer's difficulties in overcoming negative stereotypes, myths, and perceptions that were most often based in racial prejudice” (). Similarly, African Americans contributed to the field of drama, forming all black theatre groups and creating productions that often focused on portraying the folk experience (the experience of blacks in the South) and protesting racial oppression and black stereotypes.

Read More

Ma Rainy's Accomplishments

1504 Words | 7 Pages

While Irvin recognizes Ma Rainey’s success, Sturdyvant devalues her and her accomplishments. Specifically, he refuses to respect her title, attempts to alter the type of music she produces, and denies her artists’ fair pay. Although August Wilson emphasizes the triumphs of Ma Rainey’s career, Sturdyvant serves as a foil to illustrate the mistreatment and exploitation Black artists faced within their own industry. Sturdyvant’s and Irvin’s discussion prior to Ma Rainey’s arrival reflects the lack of respect that Blues artist had from their white managers and producers during the 1920s.

Read More

Duke Ellington Essay

751 Words | 4 Pages

In order to become a Sinofnian it requires a lot of hard work and presents itself with many challenges. Duke faced many challenges in his life, being an African American or just a man who wanted to play music in order to inspire those around him. These are not easy things to overcome in life. Not everyone was supportive of his

Read More

Louis Armstrong Research Paper

1157 Words | 5 Pages

Jazz is most often thought to have been started in the 1920s as this explosive movement, but that is in fact not the case. Starting in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century many African American musicians have started to explore their taste in improvising, and where better to do that than New Orleans (Anderson). Before the 1920s these jazz musicians have already been going around sharing the unique sound, but up until then, jazz had remained majorly in New Orleans. Interestingly during this period, a common jazz band would consist of a cornet, a clarinet, a trombone, and a rhythm section when at this period of time the clarinet is not commonly associated with being a jazz instrument, it moved into being the saxophone rather. A big

Read More

The Savoy Ballroom: An Uprising Of African-American Pop Culture

1128 Words | 5 Pages

African Americans viewed the Savoy Ballroom as “luxurious” and “high class” (Heinila 2). However, white Americans did not think that the ballroom was nearly as good as all white ballrooms. The US press criticized the Savoy Ballroom for allowing different forms of dance (Heinila 2). It was made clear that white Americans had a different perspective on the ballroom and did not respect the Savoy Ballroom (Heinila 2-3). In 1940, a group called “The Music Makers of Stage” posted an article which included racist remarks that were targeted at the Savoy Ballroom for allowing a different form of dance (Heinila 5).

Read More

Duke Ellington's Music, Black, Brown And Beige

253 Words | 2 Pages

The purpose of this post is to discuss an aspect of jazz that was charged or influenced by race, gender, religion, or another social aspect. I chose to write about a Duke Ellington album, Black, Brown and Beige. Duke Ellington was known for expressing the feelings of African Americans without being angry. However, you could still feel the pain, sadness and angst, and it was always done through a filter, with a feeling of triumph at the end. The album debuted at Carnegie Hall in 1943 with mixed reviews.

Read More

How Did Miles Davis Influence American History?

1695 Words | 7 Pages

The book details how Scott Joplin, the son of recently freed slaves, revolutionized American music. He “began pushing the limits” of ragtime, steering it “in a new direction, cross-pollinating with other musical genres” (210). According to the book, Joplin “provided some broad shoulders for future generations to climb aboard” (209). This statement proves true not only for Miles Davis but for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar himself; he learned from Miles Davis, and by extension, Scott Joplin and jazz, “how to be cool, or at least to think [he] was cool” (239). He also acknowledges the history of jazz as “like a musical slideshow of four hundred years of everything that black people have had to endure and overcome and celebrate” (240).

Read More

Louis Armstrong Accomplishments

721 Words | 3 Pages

"What he does is real, and true, and honest, and simple, and even noble. Every time this man puts his trumpet to his lips, even if only to practice three notes, he does it with his whole soul. " This quote by composer, Leonard Bernstein, perfectly grasps what Louis Armstrong aspired for every time he unhinged the case of his instrument. This recognition is what countless other black artists, musicians, poets and writers desired during the outbreak of literary and artistic African American culture in the first half of the 1900’s, known as the Harlem Renaissance.

Read More

Bix Beiderbecke Research Paper

1511 Words | 7 Pages

As an African-American man growing up in the South, Armstrong faced systemic racism and discrimination throughout his life. As he rose to fame in the jazz community, he defied stereotypes and helped open the door for other black musicians to succeed. Armstrong was one of the first black artists to rise to prominence, and he was determined to make his voice heard in support of other black

Read More

Louis Armstrong Research Paper

1297 Words | 6 Pages

Many white performers admired black performers, they tried to emulate various aspects of black performances. One of the biggest influences was on Bing Crosby, which was important to the development of popular music. Louis influenced the “Scat” in singing that Crosby ended up adopting after he had heard Armstrong’s hit 1926 recording of “Heebie Jeebies”. (INSERT SOURCE TO

Read More

Jim Crow Laws In The 1920s

505 Words | 3 Pages

“Monroe Berger who notes that jazz music created black-white contact where a black musician received full acceptance as an equal and was (often admired as superior) without condescension”(). The scene of both black and white musicians became more appealing as time went

Read More

Louis Armstrong As A Harlem Renaissance

827 Words | 4 Pages

Salih Hashim 10/28/17 Period 5 Musician of Harlem Renaissance Louis Armstrong was born into a poor poverty in New Orleans. As a young boy, he had a very difficult childhood after his father abandoned the family, which he dropped out of school and helped his mother to provide for the family. Louis was a highly talented singer blessed with a powerful gravelly voice and he was one of the first African American entertainers to be highly popular among the white and black society. Louis Armstrong was one of the most influential artist in history of jazz music, he was known for his improvisation skills and abilities of the method of playing the trumpet and cornet. When Louis discovered that he was naturally gifted in music, he established himself as a respected player of jazz music over a period of years.

Read More

Jazz Influence On American Culture

1090 Words | 5 Pages

In life, there are few things as organic as jazz music. With its raw sound and scrappy roots, one cannot help but feel life head-on whilst witnessing players produce such a sound right before their eyes. Its origins and arch are a product of the United States’ national culture and identity. Jazz exists not only as a deeply rooted form of art but as a cultural marker, particularly during its commercial peak in the first half of the 20th century. Its impact transcends borders, and it is one of the most beloved musical genres worldwide.

Read More

More about Struggles Of Art Tatum, Louis Armstrong, And Societal Unreadiness

Related Topics

Open Document