Hi Leon!
Below you will find brief summaries for each of the Jazz musicians
listed in your question.
Louis Armstrong - 76 words
Louis Armstrong, also known as "Satchmo" or "Pops," born in New
Orleans, is considered the most important improviser in jazz.
Armstrong first achieved fame as a trumpeter, but was also one of the
most influential jazz singers, and towards the end of his career was
best known as a vocalist. He holds the record for being the oldest
artist ever to have a Number one record with his version of the song
"Hello, Dolly in 1964.
Sources of information:
?Louis Armstrong was the greatest of all Jazz musicians. Armstrong
defined what it was to play Jazz. His amazing technical abilities, the
joy and spontaneity, and amazingly quick, inventive musical mind still
dominate Jazz to this day. Only Charlie Parker comes close to having
as much influence on the history of Jazz as Louis Armstrong did. Like
almost all early Jazz musicians, Louis was from New Orleans.?
?In 1963 Armstrong scored a huge international hit with his version of
"Hello Dolly". This number one single even knocked the Beatles off the
top of the charts. In 1968 he recorded another number one hit with the
touchingly optimistic "What A Wonderful World". Armstrong's health
began to fail him and he was hospitalized several times over the
remaining three years of his life, but he continued playing and
recording. On July 6th 1971 the world's greatest Jazz musician died in
his sleep at his home in Queens, New York.?
Red Hot Jazz
http://www.redhotjazz.com/louie.html
?By the '50s, Armstrong was an established international celebrity--an
icon to musicians and lovers of jazz--and a genial, infectiously
optimistic presence wherever he appeared. His death on July 6, 1971,
was front-page news around the world, and more than 25,000 mourners
filed past his coffin as he lay in state at the New York National
Guard Armory.?
?Armstrong summarized his philosophy in the spoken introduction to his
1970 recording It's A Wonderful World. "And all I'm saying is, see
what a wonderful world it would be if only we would give it a chance.
Love, baby, love. That's the secret. Yeah."
http://www.npg.si.edu/exh/armstrong/
?Louis Armstrong was born on August 4, 1901, in New Orleans,
Louisiana, the birthplace of jazz. He is considered the most important
improviser in jazz, and he taught the world to swing. Armstrong,
fondly known as "Satchmo" (which is short for "Satchelmouth" referring
to the size of his mouth) or "Pops," had a sense of humor, natural and
unassuming manner, and positive disposition that made everyone around
him feel good. With his infectious, wide grin and instantly
recognizable gravelly voice, he won the hearts of people everywhere.
He had an exciting and innovative style of playing that musicians
imitate to this day. Throughout his career, Armstrong spread the
language of jazz around the world, serving as an international
ambassador of swing. His profound impact on the music of the 20th
century continues into the 21st century.?
PBS
http://www.pbs.org/jazz/biography/artist_id_armstrong_louis.htm
?The greatest American jazz musician, Louis Armstrong (1901-1971), was
born and raised in the "birthplace of jazz," New Orleans. His
neighborhood was nicknamed the "Battlefield" because of frequent
fighting between gangs.?
http://www.pbs.org/jazz/kids/nowthen/louis.html
?Louis Armstrong, was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, on August 4,
1901 (according to the most recent research), in the poorest section
of town. He overcame poverty to become one of the most important
people in the history of music. Louis Armstrong was called "the single
most important figure in the history of jazz" by Billboard magazine, a
publication that tracks the recording industry.?
?No one before Armstrong had ever played the trumpet the way that he
did. He was one of the first great soloists of jazz music. The solos
he played were as interesting and innovative as any music written at
the time. Rather than follow notes on a page, he improvised, playing
what was in his head instead. This type of playing laid the foundation
for all jazz to come.?
(..)
?In addition to all of his accomplishments, Louis Armstrong holds the
record for being the oldest artist ever to have a Number 1 record. He
accomplished this when he was 63 years old with his version of the
song "Hello, Dolly," from the musical of the same name. What is even
more extraordinary is that he reached Number 1 in 1964 by toppling the
Beatles from the top of the charts! Louis Armstrong had come a long
way from his poor Louisiana beginnings.?
Americas Library
http://www.americaslibrary.gov/cgi-bin/page.cgi/jb/progress/louis_1
?Louis Armstrong was born in a poor section of New Orleans known as
?the Battlefield? on August 4, 1901. By the time of his death in 1971,
the man known around the world as Satchmo was widely recognized as a
founding father of jazz ? a uniquely American art form. His influence,
as an artist and cultural icon, is universal, unmatched, and very much
alive today.?
http://www.satchmo.net/bio/
?Born in New Orleans in 1901, Louis Armstrong was one of jazz's
premier performers. His success with the trumpet onstage translated
into his becoming a figure of national importance as an actor,
spokesperson, comedian, and writer. His likeness graced the cover of
the time's most important magazines and he was a major player in all
other forms of media through his fifty-year career. Indeed, when he
died in 1971, more than 25,000 people mourned "Satchmo" as he lay in
state at a New York armory?. http://www.si.edu/ajazzh/armstron.htm
?Louis Armstrong was the first important soloist to emerge in jazz,
and he became the most influential musician in the music's history. As
a trumpet virtuoso, his playing, beginning with the 1920s studio
recordings made with his Hot Five and Hot Seven ensembles, charted a
future for jazz in highly imaginative, emotionally charged
improvisation.?
http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/armstrong_louis/bio.jhtml
?Louis Daniel Armstrong (August 4, 19011 - July 6, 1971) (also known
by the nickname Satchmo) was an African American jazz musician.
Probably the most famous jazz musician of the 20th century, Armstrong
was a charismatic, innovative performer whose musical skills and
bright personality transformed jazz from a rough regional dance music
into a popular art form.!
?first achieved fame as a trumpeter, but was also one of the most
influential jazz singers, and towards the end of his career was best
known as a vocalist.?
?The influence of Armstrong on the development of jazz is virtually
immeasurable, but his irrepressible personality both as a performer,
and later in his career as a public figure, was so strong that to some
it overshadowed his contributions as a musician and singer.?
Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Armstrong
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Ella Fitzgerald - 75 words
Ella Fitzgerald, ?The First Lady of Song? or ?Lady Ella,? was born in
Newport News, Virginia. She was the most popular female jazz singer in
the United States for more than half a century. In 1938 her first big
hit, a tune based on a nursery rhyme, "A Tisket A Tasket," launched
her to stardom. In her lifetime, she won 13 Grammy awards, more than
any other jazz musician and sold over 40 million albums.
Sources of information:
?Ella Fitzgerald was orphaned in early childhood and moved to New York
to attend an orphanage school in Yonkers. In 1934, she was discovered
in an amateur contest sponsored by the Apollo Theatre in New York
City. This led to an engagement with Chick Webb's band, and she soon
became a celebrity of the swing era with performances such as
A-tisket, A-tasket (1938) and Undecided (1939). When Webb died in
1939, Fitzgerald took over the direction of the band, which she led
for three years. She then embarked on a solo career, issuing
commercial and jazz recordings, and in 1946 began an association with
Norman Granz's Jazz at the Philharmonic, which eventually brought her
a large international following.?
?For decades Fitzgerald has been considered the quintessential female
jazz singer and has drawn copious praise from admirers as diverse as
Charlie Parker and the singer Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau.?
http://www.pbs.org/jazz/biography/artist_id_fitzgerald_ella.htm
?Dubbed "The First Lady of Song," Ella Fitzgerald was the most popular
female jazz singer in the United States for more than half a century.
In her lifetime, she won 13 Grammy awards and sold over 40 million
albums.
?Ella Fitzgerald received hundreds of honors throughout her career.
Her musical achievements began when the 15-year-old won first place at
the Apollo Theater's Amateur Night. During the next 50 years, she went
on to collect 13 Grammy awards. During her career, Ella recorded over
200 albums and around 2,000 songs. Among those recordings are works
with some of history's greatest jazz musicians and the legendary
Songbook series.?
http://www.ellafitzgerald.com/about/index.php
?Ella Fitzgerald (April 25, 1917 - June 15, 1996), also known as Lady
Ella, was one of the most important jazz singers, and the winner of
thirteen Grammy Awards. Gifted with a three-octave vocal range, she is
noted for her purity of tone and "horn-like" improvisational ability,
particularly in her scat singing.
She was born in Newport News, Virginia and raised in Yonkers, New
York. She was left on her own as an orphan at age 14. Her singing
debut was at age 16 in 1934 at the Harlem Apollo Theatre, New York, in
one of the earliest of its famous "Amateur Nights", which she won,
adding fame to both the Apollo and herself.?
(..)
?Armstrong, but the couple also recorded the very popular "Ella and
Louis" which was so successful that Granz's Verve records asked them
for the equally successful "Ella and Louis again".
?She married twice. Her second husband was the famous bass player Ray
Brown. Together they adopted a child, Ray Brown, Jr.?
Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ella_Fitzgerald
?Ella Fitzgerald, one of the most celebrated and influential jazz
singers of her generation, died at the age of 79 on June 15, 1996.
Often called the "First Lady of Song," Fitzgerald enjoyed the love of
audiences, the respect of musicians, and the praise of critics.?
?Fitzgerald was honored with 13 Grammy Awards, the National Medal of
Arts, and many honorary doctorate degrees from such universities as
Dartmouth and Yale. In 1979, she was enshrined in the Hall of Fame of
the jazz magazine Down Beat.?
?Ella Fitzgerald was born on April 25, 1917, in Newport News,
Virginia. Most biographies and reference books list the year of her
birth as 1918, but her 1993 biography confirmed that she was born one
year earlier.? http://www2.worldbook.com/features/aamusic/html/fitzgerald.htm
?Fitzgerald's career spanned 60 years. Born in Newport News, Va., on
April 25, 1918, she broke into the music business by winning a 1934
talent show at Harlem's Apollo Theatre, then joined Chick Webb's
driving band, becoming his featured vocalist at the Savoy Ballroom. In
1938 she had her first big hit, a novelty tune based on a nursery
rhyme, "A Tisket A Tasket," followed by "Undecided," in 1939. When
Webb died that year, Fitzgerald led the band until 1942, then launched
a solo career.?
?In 1979, Fitzgerald was elected by the Readers into the Down Beat Hall of Fame.?
http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/singerUnid/2D2925B205CEBCA048256AAB0004E7D0
?Over the years, Fitzgerald won dozens of awards. She dominated the
early Grammy ceremonies, winning best female vocal performance three
years in a row. In all, she won 13 Grammy awards -- more than any
other jazz musician.?
CNN
http://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/9606/15/fitzgerald.obit/index.html
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Bix Beiderbecke - 74 words
Bix Beiderbecke, born in 1903 in Iowa was one of the great jazz
musicians of the 1920's. He began playing the piano at age 3 and was
self-taught on the cornet. Beiderbecke?s style is characterized by
lyricism and purity of tone. He was star soloist with the Wolverines
and performed with the orchestras of Jean Goldkette, Paul Whitemanm
and Frankie Trumbauer. At the age of 28, in 1931 Beiderbecke died
during an alcoholic seizure.
Sources of information:
Leon Bix (1903 -1931) Cornetist
?As a boy, Bix Beiderbecke had a few piano lessons, but he was
self-taught on cornet and developed an unorthodox technique by playing
along with recordings.?
?Based in Chicago, he became known through his playing and recordings
with the Wolverines in 1924. In the same year, he began a long
association with Frankie Trumbauer , recording with him in New York?
?Beiderbecke's originality made him one of the first white jazz
musicians to be admired by black performers. Louis Armstrong
recognized in him a kindred spirit, and Rex Stewart exactly reproduced
some of his solos on recordings. Beiderbecke's influence on such white
players as Red Nichols and Bunny Berigan was decisive. Although he was
largely unknown to the general public at the time of his death, he
acquired an almost legendary aura among jazz musicians and
enthusiasts.?
PBS
http://www.pbs.org/jazz/biography/artist_id_beiderbecke_bix.htm
?Bix Beiderbecke was one of the great jazz musicians of the 1920's; he
was also a child of the Jazz Age who drank himself to an early grave
with illegal Prohibition liquor. His hard drinking and beautiful tone
on the cornet made him a legend among musicians during his life. The
legend of Bix grew even larger after he died. Bix never learned to
read music very well, but he had an amazing ear even as a child.?
Red Hot Jazz
http://www.redhotjazz.com/bix.html
?Bix Beiderbecke was one of the greatest jazz musicians of the 1920s.
His colorful life, quick rise and fall, and eventual status as a
martyr made him a legend even before he died, and he has long stood as
proof that not all the innovators in jazz history were black.
Possessor of a beautiful, distinctive tone and a strikingly original
improvising style, Beiderbecke's only competitor among cornetists in
the '20s was Louis Armstrong but (due to their different sounds and
styles) one really could not compare them.?
?While he had conventional training on the piano, he taught himself
the cornet. Influenced by the original Dixieland Jazz Band,
Beiderbecke craved the freedom of jazz but his straight-laced parents
felt he was being frivolous.?
http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:hb6atr69kl3x~T1
Bix Beiderbecke
Born March 10, 1903, Davenport, Iowa, U.S.
Died August 6, 1931, Long Island, N.Y.
?Bix Beiderbecke American jazz cornetist who was an outstanding
improviser and composer of the 1920s and whose style is characterized
by lyricism and purity of tone. He was the first major white jazz
soloist.?
Britannica Online
http://www.britannica.com/eb/article?eu=15332
?In 1923, Beiderbecke became the star cornetist of the Wolverines and
a year later this spirited group made some classic recordings.?
?Although already an alcoholic, 1927 would be Beiderbecke's greatest
year. He worked with Jean Goldkette's orchestra (most of their records
are unfortunately quite commercial), recorded his piano masterpiece
"In a Mist" (one of his four Debussy-inspired originals), cut many
classic sides with a small group headed by Trumbauer (including his
greatest solos: "Singin' the Blues," "I'm Comin' Virginia," and "Way
Down Yonder in New Orleans"), and then signed up with Paul Whiteman's
huge and prosperous orchestra.?
?He was productive throughout 1928, but by the following year his
drinking really began to catch up with him. Beiderbecke had a
breakdown, made a comeback, and then in September 1929 was reluctantly
sent back to Davenport to recover. Unfortunately, Beiderbecke made a
few sad records in 1930 before his death at age 28. The bad liquor of
the Prohibition era did him in.?
MSN Entertainment
http://entertainment.msn.com/artist/?artist=122817
?Beiderbecke was one of the most influential jazz musicians of his
time His style contributed to the development of the jazz ballad. . He
first played in New York City in September 1924 with his band the
Wolverines. He performed with a number of orchestras. With the
saxiphonist Frankie Trumbauer, he led an ensemble in 1925-1926?
Beiderbecke died of chronic alcoholism at the young age of 28 on
August 6, 1931, at 9:30 p.m?
http://www.astorialic.org/topics/people/beiderbecke.shtm
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Charlie Parker ? 80 words
Charlie "Bird" Parker American alto saxophone player, was born on
August 29, 1920 in Kansas. He was one of the most influential
improvising soloists in jazz, and a founder of the bebop jazz style in
the 1940s. Several of his compositions, including "Ornithology" and
"Confirmation," became jazz standards. The National Academy of
Recording Arts and Sciences honored his memory with a Grammy Award in
1974. Parker suffered chronic drug addiction, dying on March 12, 1955
at the age of 34.
Sources of information:
?Charles Christopher Parker, Jr. was born on August 29, 1920 in Kansas
City, Kansas to Charles and Addie Parker. He was given the nicknames
"Bird" and "Yardbird". Since a chicken is a "yard bird" and Parker was
quite fond of chicken, Parker was given the nickname Charlie
"Yardbird" Parker. He was also nicknamed "Bird" for his tendency to
"live free as a bird".
Duke University: Charlie Parker Biography
http://www.duke.edu/~rw5/parkerb.html
?Alto saxophonist Charlie "Bird" Parker was the most influential jazz
musician of the last half of the 20th Century.?
?During two crucial years in bop development, '43-'44, there was a
recording strike and so when Bird and Diz's first sides began to
appear ('45) they seemed all the more radical. At this point there was
no looking back, and during the late-'40s and early '50s, Parker
recorded one masterpiece after another.?
?The fact is that Parker played well despite his addiction, and there
was ample recorded evidence that the drug often weakened his usually
indomitable reflexes. Such was his excesses that when he died on March
12, 1955 at the age of 34, a coroner estimated his age as 64.?
Launch Music on Yahoo
http://launch.yahoo.com/artist/artistFocus.asp?artistID=1020601
Charles Christopher Parker, Jr.
Born Aug. 29, 1920, Kansas City, Kan., U.S.
died March 12, 1955, New York, N.Y.
U.S. saxophonist and composer.
?He played with Jay McShann's big band (1940?42) and those of Earl
Hines (1942?44) and Billy Eckstine (1944) before leading his own small
groups in New York City.?
?His direct, cutting tone and unprecedented dexterity on the alto
saxophone made rapid tempos and fast flurries of notes trademarks of
bebop, and his complex, subtle harmonic understanding brought an
altogether new sound to the music. Easily the most influential jazz
musician of his generation, Parker suffered chronic drug addiction,
and his early death contributed to making him a tragic legend.?
Britannica Concise Enciclopedia
http://concise.britannica.com/ebc/article?eu=399896
?Parker, Charlie (1920-1955) an alto saxophonist and composer, ranks
among the most influential musicians in jazz history. Parker and
trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie were responsible for the rise of bebop, a
complex rhythmic, melodic, and harmonic form of jazz that developed in
the 1940's. His many recordings illustrate his amazing technique and
the richness of his musical ideas. Several of his compositions,
including "Ornithology" and "Confirmation," became jazz standards.?
World Book: Charlie Parker
http://www2.worldbook.com/features/aamusic/html/parker.htm
?Charlie Parker was one of the most influential improvising soloists
in jazz, and a central figure in the development of bop in the 1940s.
A legendary figure in his own lifetime, he was idolized by those who
worked with him, and he inspired a generation of jazz performers and
composers.?
PBS
http://www.pbs.org/jazz/biography/artist_id_parker_charlie.htm
?Charlie Parker was an amazing saxophonist who gained wide recognition
for his solos and innovative improvisations. He was, without a doubt,
one of the most influential and talented musicians in jazz history. He
could play remarkably fast lines, if slowed down to half speed, would
reveal that every note made sense. He could play amazingly fast and
complex solos or sweet, slow ballads. Charlie Parker, who was a
legendary figure during his lifetime, has if anything grown in stature
since his death.?
Duke University
http://www.duke.edu/~rw5/parkerb1.html
?Parker received several honors during his lifetime. In 1949,
Birdland, a jazz nightclub named after him, opened in New York City.
He won several jazz polls in Down Beat magazine and was placed in its
Hall of Fame in 1955. He and Gillespie received their Down Beat awards
on television in 1952, an event preserved in the video documentary,
Celebrating Bird: The Triumph of Charlie Parker (1987). Years later,
the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) honored
his memory with a Grammy Award (1974), a Lifetime Achievement Award
(1984), and three Hall of Fame Awards (1988, 1989, and 1995). A
motion-picture biography of Parker, Bird, was released in 1988. The
film?s music features solos by Parker layered on top of new rhythm
tracks.?
Encarta
http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761563779/Parker_Charlie.html
?The only child of Charles and Addie Parker, Charlie Parker was one of
the most important and influential saxophonists and jazz players of
the 1940?s.? http://www.cmgww.com/music/parker/about/biography.html
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Cab Calloway ? 73 words
Cabell (Cab) Calloway, known as "The Hi-De-Ho Man," jazz singer,
dancer, and bandleader was born on Christmas Day in 1907 in Rochester,
NY. He became nationally known as a bandleader and star attraction at
Harlem's famed Cotton Club in 1931. Calloway?s hits included ?Minnie
the Moocher? (1931) and ?Blues in the Night? (1942). He was one of the
best entertainers in the United States from the early 1930s until his
death in 1994.
Sources of information:
?One of the great entertainers, Cab Calloway was a household name by
1932, and never really declined in fame. A talented jazz singer and a
superior scatter, Calloway's gyrations and showmanship on-stage at the
Cotton Club sometimes overshadowed the quality of his always excellent
bands.?
http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/calloway_cab/bio.jhtml
Cabell "Cab" Calloway
1907-1994
?Known as the legendary "Hi De Ho" man, Cab Calloway was an energetic
showman, gifted singer, talented actor, and fashion trendsetter. A
larger-than-life figure of his day who was immortalized in the media,
Calloway led one of the greatest bands of the Swing Era.?
?His popular hits, which included "Minnie the Moocher," were matched
by both the quality of the musicians he hired and his extraordinary
showmanship. In the late 1930s, Calloway's band was one of the
top-grossing acts in jazz and had become a proving ground for rising
talent such as Dizzy Gillespie, Ben Webster, Cozy Cole, and Doc
Cheatham.?
?Cab Calloway continued to perform until his death in 1994 at age 88.?
http://www.aetna.com/foundation/aahcalendar/1990calloway_bio.html
?Calloway, Cab (Cabell Calloway), 1907?94, jazz singer and band
leader, b. Rochester, N.Y. Known for his inventive creativity, he
hired some of the top musicians of his day for his jazz orchestra,
including Dizzy Gillespie and Milt Hinton; he also promoted singers
Pearl Bailey and Lena Horne. Cab Calloway and his band became famous
as a result of radio broadcasts (1931?32) from New York City's Cotton
Club and was one of the highest earning bands of the 1930s and 40s.
His hits included ?Minnie the Moocher? (1931) and ?Blues in the Night?
(1942). He also appeared in several films.?
Infoplease
http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/people/A0809937.html
?Inaugurating his performing career in Baltimore, African-American
musical entertainer Cab Calloway organized his first band in New York.
Calloway already had a strong following thanks to his recordings,
when, in 1931, he replaced Duke Ellington as orchestra leader at
Harlem's fabled Cotton Club. His lively, athletic performing style,
coupled with his trademarked "Hi De Ho" delivery, was given nationwide
exposure via his guest appearances in such Paramount features as The
Big Broadcast (1932) and International House (1933).?
Movies Yahoo
http://movies.yahoo.com/shop?d=hc&id=1800035801&cf=biog&intl=us
?Known as "The Hi-De-Ho Man," jazz singer, dancer, and bandleader Cab
Calloway was one of the best-known entertainers in the United States
from the early 1930s until his death in 1994. Calloway's musical
talents, however, were only part of the story. His live performances
at Harlem's Cotton Club became legendary because of Calloway's wild
gyrations, facial expressions, and entertaining patter.?
http://64.233.179.104/search?q=cache:to0GhwTrFd8J:www.findarticles.com/g1epc/bio/2419200180/p1/article.jhtml+Cab+Calloway+known++%22Hi+De+Ho%22&hl=en
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Search criteria:
Louis Armstrong biography OR profile
Ella Fitzgerald biography OR profile
Bix Beiderbecke biography OR profile
Charlie Parker biography OR profile
Cab Calloway biography OR profile
I hope you find this information helpful!
Best regards,
Bobbie7 |
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