Louis Armstrong

Biography

Louis Daniel Armstrong (August 4, 1901 – July 6, 1971), nicknamed Satchmo or Pops, was an American jazz trumpeter and singer from New Orleans, Louisiana. Coming to prominence in the 1920s as an "inventive" cornet and trumpet player, Armstrong was a foundational influence in jazz, shifting the music's focus from collective improvisation to solo performance. With his instantly recognizable deep and distinctive gravelly voice, Armstrong was also an influential singer, demonstrating great dexterity as an improviser, bending the lyrics and melody of a song for expressive purposes. He was also greatly skilled at scat singing, vocalizing using sounds and syllables instead of actual lyrics. Renowned for his charismatic stage presence and voice almost as much as for his trumpet-playing, Armstrong's influence extends well beyond jazz music, and by the end of his career in the 1960s, he was widely regarded as a profound influence on popular music in general. Armstrong was one of the first truly popular African-American entertainers to "cross over," whose skin-color was secondary to his amazing talent in an America that was severely racially divided. It allowed him socially acceptable access to the upper echelons of American society that were highly restricted for a person of color. While he rarely publicly politicized his race, often to the dismay of fellow African-Americans, he was privately a huge supporter of the Civil Rights movement in America.

Known For

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

What's My Line?

The Dick Cavett Show

The Ed Sullivan Show

The Oscars

Omnibus

Omnibus

All Movies (91)

• Soundtrack to a Coup d'Etat2024 · as Self (archive footage)
• Coldplay: Music of the Spheres - Live Broadcast from Buenos Aires2022 · as Self (voice) (archive sound)
• The Sound of 0072022 · as Self (archive footage)
• Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues2022 · as Self (archive footage)
• Dark Eyes2021 · as Self (archive footage)
• Louis Armstrong in Concert2021 · as Self - Performer (archive footage)
• Eric Burdon: Rock 'n' Roll Animal2019 · as Self (Archive Footage) (Uncredited)
• The Jazz Ambassadors2018 · as Self (archive footage)
• Bing Crosby: Rediscovered2014 · as Self (archive footage)
• Jazz Legends in Their Own Words2014 · as Self (archive footage)
• Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong: Ella and Louis & Ella and Louis Again2013 · as Self
• …Sings Musicals2012 · as Self (archive footage)
• Bert Stern - Original Madman2011
• The Best Of Louis Armstrong: Satchmo At His Best2009 · as Self
• Jazz Evolution2008 · as Self - Trumpet
• Good Evening Ev'rybody: In Celebration of Louis Armstrong2008 · as Self
• Music Inn2007 · as Himself (archive footage)
• Louis Armstrong - Live In Stockholm 19622007 · as Self
• Louis Armstrong: Live in '592006 · as Trumpet, Vocal
• Frankie Laine: An American Dreamer2006 · as Self (archive footage)
• Billie Holiday: The Ultimate Collection2005 · as Himself
• Året var 19552005 · as Self (archive footage)
• Louis Armstrong: The Louis Armstrong Show2005 · as Trumpet/Vocals
• The Story Of The Blues2004 · as Self
• The Harlem Renaissance2004 · as Self (archive footage)
• Cole Porter in Hollywood: True Love2003 · as Self (Archive Footage)
• It's Black Entertainment2002 · as Self (archive footage)
• Swing With Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman and Tony Bennett2001
• Louis Armstrong: 100th Anniversary 1901-20012001 · as Himself (archive footage)
• Louis Armstrong & Benny Goodman - Sounds in Motion2000
• The Wonderful World of Louis Armstrong1999 · as Self (archive footage)
• Mahalia Jackson: The Power and the Glory1997
• The World of Polygoon1994 · as Self (archive footage)
• Benny Goodman - Adventures In The Kingdom Of Swing1993 · as Self (archive footage)
• Bluesland: A Portrait in American Music1993 · as Self (archive footage)
• The Best Of Danny Kaye - The Television Years1993 · as Self (archive footage)
• Satchmo: The Life of Louis Armstrong1992 · as Self (archival footage)
• The Magic of Bing Crosby1991 · as Self (archive footage)
• Bix: Ain't None of Them Play Like Him Yet1982 · as Self
• That's Entertainment, Part II1976 · as (archive footage)
• On the Road with Duke Ellington1974 · as Self
• Why America1970 · as Self (archive footage)
• Hello, Dolly!1969 · as Orchestra Leader
• A Man Called Adam1966 · as Willie Ferguson
• Rhein-Melodie - Wein, Gesang und gute Laune1966 · as himself
• When the Boys Meet the Girls1965 · as Louise Armstrong
• Hallo Satchmo1965 · as Self
• Louis Armstrong v Praze1965 · as Self
• The Day of the Oath1965 · as Self
• Louis Armstrong: Live in Australia1964 · as Chanteur, Trompettiste,
• Berlin-Melodie1963
• Disneyland After Dark1962
• Auf Wiedersehen1961 · as er selbst
• Paris Blues1961 · as Wild Man Moore
• Jazz on a Summer's Day1960 · as Self
• Kærlighedens melodi1959 · as Musician with Orchestra
• La Paloma1959 · as Louis Armstrong
• The Beat Generation1959 · as Louis Armstrong
• The Five Pennies1959 · as Louis Armstrong
• The All-Star Christmas Show1958 · as Self
• The Edsel Show1957 · as Self
• Satchmo the Great1957
• High Society1956 · as Louis Armstrong
• Jazz Ball1956 · as Self (archive footage)
• The Glenn Miller Story1954 · as Louis Armstrong
• Saluti e baci1953 · as himself
• Glory Alley1952 · as Shadow Johnson
• Here Comes the Groom1951 · as Louis Armstrong (uncredited)
• The Strip1951 · as Himself
• I'm in the Revue1950 · as Band Leader
• A Song Is Born1948 · as Louis Armstrong
• New Orleans1947 · as Himself
• Pillow to Post1945 · as Orchestra Leader
• Atlantic City1944 · as Himself
• Jam Session1944 · as Himself
• Show-Business at War1943 · as Self
• Cabin in the Sky1943 · as The Trumpeter
• Sleepy Time Down South1942 · as Self
• Shine1942 · as Self
• Swingin' on Nothin'1942 · as Self
• Birth of the Blues1941 · as Self (archive footage)
• Going Places1938 · as Gabe
• Doctor Rhythm1938 · as Trumpet Player
• Every Day's a Holiday1937 · as Louis Armstrong
• Artists & Models1937 · as Self
• Pennies from Heaven1936 · as Henry
• København, Kalundborg og -?1934
• Louis Armstrong in Copenhagen1934 · as Himself
• I'll Be Glad When You're Dead You Rascal You1932 · as Louis Armstrong
• A Rhapsody in Black and Blue1932 · as Himself
• Ex-Flame1930 · as Louis Armstrong

All TV Shows (23)

• Jazz2001 · as Self (archive footage)
• The Pearl Bailey Show1971 · as Self
• The Flip Wilson Show1970 · as Self
• The Johnny Cash Show1969 · as Self
• The Dick Cavett Show1968 · as Self - Guest
• Omnibus1967 · as Self
• Omnibus1967
• Shindig!1964 · as Self - Singer
• Shindig!1964 · as Self
• The Hollywood Palace1964 · as Self
• The Danny Kaye Show1963 · as Self
• The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson1962 · as Self
• The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson1962 · as Self (archive footage)
• Discorama1959 · as Self
• The Bell Telephone Hour1959 · as Self
• Kraft Music Hall1958 · as Self
• DuPont Show of the Month1957 · as Self
• The Dinah Shore Chevy Show1956 · as Self
• The Steve Allen Show1956 · as Self - Jazz Trumpeter
• The Oscars1953 · as Self
• The Colgate Comedy Hour1950 · as Self
• What's My Line?1950 · as Self
• The Ed Sullivan Show1948 · as Self