Louis Armstrong: The Soundtrack of the American Experience (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9781566638364)

In the twentieth century, African Americans not only helped make popular music the soundtrack of the American experience, they advanced American music as one of the preeminent shapers of the world's popular culture. Vast numbers of black American musicians deserve credit for this remarkable turn of events, but a few stand out as true giants. David Stricklin's superb new biography explores the life of one of them, Louis Armstrong. The life story of this great instrumentalist, bandleader, and entertainer illustrates much of the black entertainer's impact on American culture and illuminates how popular culture often intersects with politics and economics. Armstrong emerged from a precarious background and triumphed over almost impossible odds, becoming a transcendent public figure and an international icon. Mr. Stricklin concentrates on Armstrong's musical talent, something many observers called a thing of genius. But he also pays special attention to Armstrong's identity a black man in America and the ways in which he triumphed over the mistreatment and disrespect dealt countless people like him. The creativity and exuberance he shared with the world came from his unique vantage as an artist and as an African American with a striking and lively spirit of freedom. He might have been able to demonstrate that determination in any line of work, but his story has special urgency because he expressed his creative power through music. With 16 black-and-white photographs.

Author: David Stricklin
ISBN-10: 1566638364
ISBN-13: 9781566638364
Publisher: Ivan R. Dee Publisher
Language: English
Published: 04/16/2010
Pages: 200
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 0.80lbs
Size: 8.50h x 5.60w x 0.90d

Review Citation(s):
Booklist 05/01/2010 pg. 65
Choice 10/01/2010
Books & Culture 07/01/2014 pg. 15