Rating: 
Summary: The entertaining story of a very important jazz figure.
Review: There is much more to Louis Armstrong than the man we think we know. Most of us are familiar with the older Armstrong, the grinning, gravelly voiced horn player we've seen in the movies. Author Laurence Bergreen takes us back to the New Orleans of the early 1900s where prostitution was legal and jazz was its background music. Louis Armstrong cut his teeth on ragtime and early jazz, and followed the jazz migration to Chicago where he helped introduce jazz to mainstream America. Despite stormy relationships and brushes with the Chicago gangland scene, Armstrong's unrivaled horn playing and his inimitable voice became synonymous with jazz in the U.S. and around the world. You can almost hear Satchmo's horn peal through the pages of this book. A must read for every jazz buff.
Rating:
Summary: An Excellent Biography
Review: This biography does an excellent job of painting a portrait of a man who changed 20th Century music, not only in America, but across the globe. Learning the details of Louis' life and struggles only enhances my appreciation of his music.The impact of Louis Armstrong is still felt on several levels in our society. While Armstrong did not have a hand in inventing jazz, he was instrumental in pushing it artistically. With a minimum of formal instruction, he revolutionized the trumpet as well as singing in Jazz and popular music. He was also instrumental as one of the early African-American celebrities, in breaking down racial barriers.
Laurence Begreen does a fine job of illustrating the joys and struggles that Armstrong encountered. The devatating poverty and harsh socail environment of Louis youth are keenly detailed. He shows how these obstacles are overcome by Armstong's love of music and of life. He also shows the prejudice and mob intimidation that Louis had to endure on his road to stardom. All in all, this book is an inspiring work and testimonial to the life and music of one of the greatest trumpet players and entertainers to grace this planet. I would seriously recommend this to anyone with an interest in music, especially jazz.
Rating:
Summary: An Excellent Biography
Review: This biography does an excellent job of painting a portrait of a man who changed 20th Century music, not only in America, but across the globe. Learning the details of Louis' life and struggles only enhances my appreciation of his music. The impact of Louis Armstrong is still felt on several levels in our society. While Armstrong did not have a hand in inventing jazz, he was instrumental in pushing it artistically. With a minimum of formal instruction, he revolutionized the trumpet as well as singing in Jazz and popular music. He was also instrumental as one of the early African-American celebrities, in breaking down racial barriers.
Laurence Begreen does a fine job of illustrating the joys and struggles that Armstrong encountered. The devatating poverty and harsh socail environment of Louis youth are keenly detailed. He shows how these obstacles are overcome by Armstong's love of music and of life. He also shows the prejudice and mob intimidation that Louis had to endure on his road to stardom. All in all, this book is an inspiring work and testimonial to the life and music of one of the greatest trumpet players and entertainers to grace this planet. I would seriously recommend this to anyone with an interest in music, especially jazz.
Rating:
Summary: Admirable Biography of a 20th Century Icon
Review: This biography of Louis Armstrong presents the rich mosaic that was the life of one of the greatest musicians and entertainers of the 20th Century. It uses his life story to describe the history of early jazz--from his childhood on the streets of New Orleans, his move to Chicago where he made his famous recordings with the Hot Five and Hot Seven, and on to New York and Europe. I was surprized to learn that in many ways his charismatic stage persona was his real personality. But at the same time he was quite a complex character (four marriages, daily marijuana use, managers with mob connections, laxative proselytizations). Aside from his musical genius, he was a cultural icon--the first African American entertainer to cross over to broad popularity throughout America. The story is often told in Louis's own words, making it easier to get to know him. I loved the story about his first trip back to New Orleans after he spent nearly a decade going from being a local talent to an international star. When I got to the last chapter I put the book aside for a little while--I didn't want the book or Louis's life to end.
Rating:
Summary: Beyond Convention Wisdom
Review: This book goes beyond the conventional wisdom to explain a complex personality and milieu. Brillantly done, whether you're a jazz fan or just care about important Americans.
Rating:
Summary: Fabulous bio
Review: This book inspired me to pick up a bunch of CD's from various periods in Louis Armstrong's career and I am once again blown away by the absolute majesty of this man's talent. The best American musician is revealed here in a well written and well researched biography. This is an amazing American success story. The author's love of the music is evident on every page and it is infectious. Iloved this book.
Rating:
Summary: very well written
Review: this book is very well done.from start to finish it covers a wide range of things going on in his life.not only him as a Great Artist but the Man.the book will grab a hold of you&make you Respect The Man even more.i strongly Recommend this Book to anyone who is interested in a musician who helped shape&change THe Culture over time.
Rating:
Summary: WOW!!
Review: This book was amazingly well written! It wonderfuly portrays the life of a very talented and amzing man. Please, for your own sake, read this book!
Rating:
Summary: Encore for Louis!
Review: This was one of the best biographies I have ever read. By far the best one of the life of Louis Armstrong. It took me only 2 days to read this book, I could hardly put it down. Not being much of a fan of Dixieland, New Orleans Jazz, etc...after reading this book I was hooked. I wanted to listen to every Louis recording available. Bergreen paints Armstrong as such an amazing character which he completely was. Even if you aren't a jazz fan this is just a great book about a great man.
Rating:
Summary: Encore for Louis!
Review: This was one of the best biographies I have ever read. By far the best one of the life of Louis Armstrong. It took me only 2 days to read this book, I could hardly put it down. Not being much of a fan of Dixieland, New Orleans Jazz, etc...after reading this book I was hooked. I wanted to listen to every Louis recording available. Bergreen paints Armstrong as such an amazing character which he completely was. Even if you aren't a jazz fan this is just a great book about a great man.
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