| Most historians agree; when it
comes to influential musicians in this century, one name stands above the
rest. Not Gershwin or Porter, Lennon or Presley. It is, indeed, Louis Armstrong
who blasted the music of the world out of a tired tradition of classic
orchestra and mundane Tin Pan Alley pop into the exciting era of hot jazz
and swing. Not single-handedly, admittedly; but Armstrong set standards
of originality and spontaneity that are yet to be surpassed. Equal parts
singer, soloist, and personality, Louis' recordings cover an astounding
range of styles and trends. And at every single stage of his career, he
produced work of such staggering quality that it was never possible to
dismiss this icon. |
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