ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – In honor of Black History Month, Bay College celebrated the life and legacy of one of America’s greatest artists.
On Tuesday, local jazz musician Phil Lynch gave a presentation on Louis Armstrong, also known as “Satchmo.” Lynch says Armstrong was a foundational figure in jazz music, introducing techniques and styles that would become definitive of the genre, like long trumpet solos.
“He took the trumpet to heights nobody had ever gone before,” said Lynch. “Classical musicians would inspect his horn; they assumed there had to be a trick to it.”
Lynch says Armstrong also established the “swing” feeling of jazz music. Satchmo’s vocal performances are still influencing performers to this day.
“Everybody thinks of the trumpet, but he was the first guy to sing freely and to mess with the lyrics, mess with the time,” Lynch said. “He’d even improvise while singing. You can turn on the radio and still hear his influence. When somebody goes a little freely off the melody, anytime anybody improvises in music, you’re hearing Louis Armstrong.”
Armstrong became the highest-paid black entertainer and jazz artist of the 50s and 60s.
“I recently came across a quote where he said he’d met with royalty, had an audience with the pope, and then he said at the end of the day, ‘I’m still Louis Armstrong — colored,'” said Lynch. “He dealt with that his whole life, living in a segregated America and as an entertainer trying to ‘make it’ in a white world.”
Lynch will present “Satchmo the Great: The Life and Significance of Louis Armstrong” a second time at Bay College’s Iron Mountain campus on Tuesday, February 13. The free presentation will take place at 2:00 p.m. CST in the Lower Commons.
Lynch, a former teacher, is also the author of a book titled “Live Like Louis,” a collection of life lessons from the artist. To purchase Lynch’s book or to hear his original music, phillynchmusic.com.
