Welcome to part two of Jazz Greats! In the
previous article, Joe King Oliver, cornetist
and composer, Jelly Roll Morton, pianist, vocalist, composer, arranger and Duke
Ellington, pianist and arranger were presented. This week, Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong,
Earl "Fatha" Hines and Thomas "Fats" Waller will conclude the Jazz Greats segment.
Louis Armstrong -
- Born: New Orleans, Louisiana, July 4, 1900
- Died: New York, New York, July 6, 1971
Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong began his career under the tutelage of King Oliver. His first
professional job as a musician was with Fate Marable's Orchestra aboard the Streckfus
steamboats around New Orleans. Joining Joe King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band in Chicago
in 1922, he made his first records with group the following year. In 1924, he joined
Fletcher Henderson's band. Beginning in late 1925, he recorded with his own Hot Five
and Hot Seven. In the 1930's he fronted Luis Russell's band, and in 1947 he formed his
All Stars, which toured the world for 20 years. Armstrong remained a star up to the time of
his death in 1971. A special note, for those that might not know how Louis Armstrong got the nickname, "Satchmo": While he was in the Waif's Home for Boys, his friends and classmates nicknamed him, "Satchelmouth", due to the fact that he had a very wide grin and it reminded them of a satchel. Later on it was shortened to "Satchmo".
Go
here for a test that can be given to your class over the material presented on Louis Armstrong.
Louis Armstrong, Oh you Dog!
Earl "Fatha" Hines -
- Born: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, December 28, 1903
- Died: Oakland, California, April 22, 1983
Earl "Fatha" Hines made his first records in 1923 and recorded his first piano solos in
1928. He worked with Louis Armstrong in 1929 and in the 1930's recorded with his own
Grand Terrace Orchestra. He led several bands in the 1940's and rejoined Armstrong in
1948, staying with the All Stars through 1951. In the 1950's and 60's, he toured Europe
with all-star groups and in the 1970's and 80's played clubs and festivals as a soloist and
with his quartet. He is also known as the father of dancer-actor, Gregory Hines and dancer,
Maurice Hines.
Thomas "Fats" Waller -- Born: New York, New York, May 21, 1904
- Died: Kansas City, Kansas, December 15, 1943
A protege of stride pianist, James Johnson, "Fats" Waller becamse the most famous jazz
pianist of his time. In addition to is early rag-influenced piano rolls, he cut more than
1,000 records, starting in 1922, accompanied silent movies, had his own weekly network
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