Music Legends

 

 Louis Armstrong-(1901-1971)

            Born in New Orleans in a poor section nicknamed ‘the battlefield”-difficult childhood, father abandoned family soon after Louis’s birth. Mother turned to prostitution, frequently left him with his grandmother. Obligated to leave school in 5^th grade to begin working. After being arrested for firing a gun in the air on New Year’s Eve in 1912 he was sent to the Colored Waif’s Home for Boys. It was there he received musical instruction on the cornet and fell in love with music. During 1918 he replaced Oliver in Kid Ory’s band, at the time the most popular band in New Orleans. In 1922, he joined King Oliver in Chicago to play in his Creole Jazz Band. On April 5, 1923, he earned his first recorded solo on “Chimes Blues.” In 1924 he cut ties with Oliver and joined Fletcher Henderson’s Orchestra. Armstrong left Henderson in 1925.

• Became popular in 20s    
• A trumpeter, bandleader, singer, soloist, film star and comedian. 
• Considered one of the most influential artists in jazz history.       
• Songs-“What a Wonderful World”, ‘Stardust” and “La Via En Rose”

(A&E Television Networks, LLC)

Jelly Roll Morton (Ferdinand Joseph Lamothe)- (1890-1941)

            Born in New Orleans, an early innovator in the jazz genre, he rose to fame as the leader of Jelly Roll Morton’s Red Hot Peppers in the 1920s. He learned to play piano at the age of 10 and within a few years was playing in the red-light district where he earned his nickname “Jelly Roll”. He fell out of the limelight and struggled during the Great Depression. He managed a jazz club in Washington, D.C. in the late 30’s and died from poor health in 1941.

• Popular in 20s
• A pianist, songwriter  
• He was mix of African, French and Spanish

 (A&E Television Networks, LLC)




 

Charles “Buddy” Bolden- (1877-1931)

            Considered to be the first bandleader to play the improvised music known as jazz. He was the first “King” of cornet in New Orleans. His band started around 1895, in New Orleans parades and dances, and eventually rose to become one of the most popular bands in the city. Unfortunately, in 1907 his health deteriorated and he was committed to a mental institution (Louisiana State Asylum in Jackson) where he spent the remainder of his life.

• Played the cornet
• Known for the playing a whole lot of blues     
• Sadly there was never a recording made of his music    
• Some claim Bolden was the recipient of a voodoo curse

 (National Park Service)

 

Works Cited

A&E Television Networks, LLC. Jelly Roll Morton Biography. n.d. 9 December 2015 <www.biography.com/people/jelly-roll-morton-9415945>.

—. Louis Armstrong Biography. N.d. 9 December 2015 <http://www.biography.com/people/louis-armstrong-9188912>.

—. Charles "Buddy" Bolden. 2015. 9 December 2015 <www.nps.gov/jazz/learn/historyculture/bolden.htm>.