Armstrong: jazz genius and collage artist
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Trumpet player and singer Louis Armstrong is considered by some as the most important American musician of the 20th century. But besides music, he created some 500 collages on recording tape boxes, documenting a life full of creativity and wild parties. His artworks are now in the book Satchmo: The Wonderful World and Art of Louis Armstrong and we talk to its author, Steven Brower.
- Slideshow: Louis Armstrong's Collages
- Soundcheck Blog: John Schaefer on Louis Armstrong
- Satchmo: The Wonderful World and Art of Louis Armstrong on Amazon
Comments [6]
Some years ago, I was sitting in front of the tv, watching Sting performing on the Academy Awards, and I made a comment to my neighbor, a recording engineer and 'in the biz' that I thought Mr.Sting was highly talented but unfortunately overindulged and ego driven, based on his simultaneous endorsement of saving the Brazilian Rainforest while doing advertising for the 12 MPG Jaguar in a series of tv commercials. The engineer explained to me that Sting needed all this extra money for tour support so it was justified. I responded: "Hey-if Sting, or for that matter, any musician, from the 20th Century has made more money than LOUIS ARMSTRONG, they have to give it back-obviously, there has been an accounting error."
Nice to see Armstrong's other creative side. Thanks, Steven for writing this book.
Just to clarify: The Louis Armstrong House Museum (the historic house) is open to the public Tuesday-Sunday and is visited by people from all over the world. Several of Louis's collages are now on exhibit. No appointment neccessary! The Louis Armstrong Archives (where the other 500+ collages are stored in climate-controlled storage in the Queens College library) is open by appointment. More at: www.louisarmstronghouse.org.
Congratulations to Steven on his new book. It's great!
Michael Cogswell
Louis Armstrong House Museum
The person who just said (on air) that Armstrong liked being surrounded by fans, needs to to some work, and maybe begin by taking a tour of the Armstong House.
Pops lived in Corona because he was treated there as just another neighbor. He could have lived on Park Avenue, but did not want to be admired.
Louie Armstrong is the most important american who ever lived. He created jazz. It was an honor to name my cat (get it) Louie after our god: Pops.
We happen to own a painting by Puerto Rican great Lorenz Homar which is a tribute to Armstrong, it's titled "String of Pearls".
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