Mid+Life

From the late 1920's until the mid 1940’s Louis played with a big band, his material now becoming pop songs of the day, rather than usual blues or original instrumental compositions. His singing was now more important in his music and the groups he was paired with were questionable. Jazz critics had a different atitude with less respect than his music in the 1920's even though Armstrong continued to spread the appeal of jazz, making it more popular, around the world as no one else could. While some of his “swing” music from the 1930’s and 1940’s gave many the opportunity to enjoy him in a more easy to relate to and popular manner, some saw this as evidence of Armstrong selling out to pop music. By the late 1930's, Armstrong was one of americas most significant artists. He also had a fan base in Europe. His music changed the genre. Armstrong created "scat" music. It's said that he could make his horn sound like a voice and his voice like a horn.

Louis was in a nuber of bands, mainly [|Joe Olivers band, creole jazz band]. while playing in Olivers band, Armstrong met [|Lillian Hardin]. They later got married. Lil thought Armstrong was wasting his time playing in the band, so she tried to pressure him to leave. He finaly did. In 1947 Armstrong led a sextet that was known as “Louis Armstrong And His All-Stars.” The group played mainly Dixieland based jazz, proved an success. Due to the groups success it became Armstrong’s permanent touring.

Due to his civil rights views, People started to see Armstrong as an “Uncle Tom,” even with this critisism, Armstrong refused to back down. Armstrong took active roles in Civil Rights issues starting as early as the Eisenhower era in the 1950’s.