Famous Musicians from the Harlem Renaissance
Duke Ellington
Ellington was an African-American music composer, pianist, band leader, and the 20th century's best-known artist. He brought many great artists together and formed one of the most well-known orchestral units in the history of jazz musicians. He recorded for many famous American record companies and acted in several films as well. Ellington earned 13 Grammy awards from 1959 to 2000 for Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Best Jazz Performance By A Big Band, etc. He was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame awards for several performances, including Mood Indigo (1931), It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing - 1932), Cocktails for Two (1934), amongst many others. Among the many honors he received for promoting music, a new coin featuring him was launched by the United States Mint on 24th Feb, 2009. Ellington led his band and toured America constantly, until his death in 1974.
I am not a big fan of Duke Ellington's music, but it does have the element of bringing people together to let off steam in the dance halls of Harlem.
I am not a big fan of Duke Ellington's music, but it does have the element of bringing people together to let off steam in the dance halls of Harlem.
Louis Armstrong
One of the most famous musicians of the Harlem Renaissance was Louis Armstrong. Having come from a poor family in New Orleans, Armstrong began to perform with bands in small clubs, and play at funerals and parades around town in New Orleans. He wasn't a small band man for long, though. Louis Armstrong was invited in 1922 to move to Chicago, to play the second cornet in a Creole Jazz Band. However, just two years later, Armstrong moved to New York City, and began playing his music with the FLetcher Henderson Orchestra at the Roseland Ballroom. In 1929, he made his first appearance on the Broadway stage. In his recording of Ain't Misbehavin, he used a pop song, however, interpreted it through jazz. This helped to set the stage for the acceptance of jazz music in the future. In 1942, he married a dancer from the Cotton Club, where his band had performed many times. All throughout the 1950's and 60's, Armstrong appeared in films and made many international tours. Louis Armstrong is one of the most appreciated jazz artists of the Harlem Renaissance, and of all times. People learned to appreciate both jazz, and African American music even more, because of this man. Armstrong played music up until the day he died at 70 years old, on July 6, 1971.
Below, this is my FAVORITE song by Louis. "What A Wonderful World" has been a favorite in my family and I did not want to pass up the chance to put it on this page.
Below, this is my FAVORITE song by Louis. "What A Wonderful World" has been a favorite in my family and I did not want to pass up the chance to put it on this page.
Billie Holiday
During the 1950’s Billie Holiday rose as a social phenomenon. Born Eleanora Fagan grew up in Baltimore. As a teenager she began singing in jazz clubs. At the age of 18 Billie was spotted by John Hammond and received her first record as part of a studio group led by Benny Goodman. She made big hits including “What a Little Moonlight can do” and “Miss Brown to You.” Holiday began working with Lester Young in 1936, who gave her the nick name “Lady Day”. She was one of the first black women to work with a white orchestra. A musical legend Billie Holiday died at the age of 44. She pionerrerd a new way of manipulating phrasing and tempo. She cowrote a few songs that became jazz standards. "God Bless the Child," "Don't Explain," "Fine and Mellow," and "lady Sings the Blues."
Below is my favorite song by her "I'll Be Seeing You". I originally heard it while watching "The Notebook", but then I looked up the lyrics and then I fell in love with her voice and the story she built with her lyrics.
Below is my favorite song by her "I'll Be Seeing You". I originally heard it while watching "The Notebook", but then I looked up the lyrics and then I fell in love with her voice and the story she built with her lyrics.