A trumpeter and singer from the United States, Louis Armstrong lived from August 4, 1901, until July 6, 1971.
In 1965, for his work on Hello, Dolly!, he won a Grammy for Best Male Vocal Performance. In 1972, a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award was given to him after his passing. His career lasted five decades.
Why is Louis Armstrong’s voice so unique?
Most people around the globe can recognize his voice because of how distinctive his vocal style is! He was the first to capture the vocal technique referred to as “scat singing.” Every subsequent American popular artist was impacted by his vocal phrasing and improvisation. Armstrong is unmistakable once heard, so turn around now!
Armstrong, a well-known singer and skilled improviser who could change a song’s melody and lyrics, was also known for his instantly identifiable deep, gravelly voice. Scat singing was another talent he had.
Armstrong had a significant impact on popular music as a whole by the time of his death. Armstrong was one of the first well-known African-American artists to “cross over” to widespread appeal with white (and foreign) audiences.
To the dismay of some African Americans, he hardly ever openly politicized his race but stood up for desegregation during the Little Rock crisis.
