Louis Armstrong (1901-1971) was an American jazz musician, composer and singer. He was one of the most influential figures in jazz music and is considered one of the greatest musicians of all time. Armstrong is known for his unique and instantly recognizable trumpet style, as well as his warm and appealing singing voice. He was a prolific and multi-faceted artist, playing both jazz and popular music, and was a pioneer in the development of improvisational jazz. Armstrong released dozens of albums and hundreds of singles throughout his career, many of which remain some of the most beloved jazz recordings of all time. He was also an important influence on later generations of jazz musicians, and his influence can still be heard in the work of many modern jazz performers.
| Name | Louis Armstrong |
| Style | Jazz, Swing |
| Instruments | Trumpet, Vocals |
| Date of Birth | August 4, 1901 |
| Genres | Jazz, Trad Jazz, Pop, Blues |
| Notable Works | “What a Wonderful World”, “Hello Dolly”, “Mack the Knife” |
| Awards | Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, Presidential Medal of Freedom, National Medal of Arts |
10 Best Louis Armstrong Quotes
“All music is folk music. I ain’t never heard a horse sing a song.”
– Louis Armstrong, from GoodReads
“If you have to ask what jazz is, you’ll never know.”
– Louis Armstrong, from GoodReads
“A lot of people don’t realize what they had till it’s gone. I can tell you that.”
– Louis Armstrong, from GoodReads
“If it’s got soul, it’s got swing.”
– Louis Armstrong, from GoodReads
“What we play is life.”
– Louis Armstrong, from GoodReads
“There’s two kinds of music, the good and bad. I play the good kind.”
– Louis Armstrong, from The Art of Manliness
“Music is a world within itself, with a language we all understand.”
– Louis Armstrong, from GoodReads
“We all have to be alone sometimes, you know. It helps you find out who you are and what you really want.”
– Louis Armstrong, from GoodReads
“All I’m living for is to be a good man, a good musician, and to do the best I can.”
– Louis Armstrong, from GoodReads
“If you have to play one note and one note only, let that note be strong.”
– Louis Armstrong, from Quotes.net
7 Inspirational Louis Armstrong Quotes
“If we couldn’t laugh, we would all go insane.”
– Louis Armstrong, from Brainy Quote
“What we play is life.”
– Louis Armstrong, from GRAMMY.com
“I may be a living legend, but that sure don’t help when I’ve got to change a flat tire.”
– Louis Armstrong, from Goodreads
“If you have to ask what jazz is, you’ll never know.”
– Louis Armstrong, from Biography.com
“There are some people that if they don’t know, you can’t tell ‘em.”
– Louis Armstrong, from AZ Quotes
“A man has to have goals- for a day, for a lifetime- and that was mine, to have people say, ‘There goes Louis Armstrong, the greatest of them all.’”
– Louis Armstrong, from Biography.com
“If you have to play one style, you’re really in trouble.”
– Louis Armstrong, from AZ Quotes
6 Famous Louis Armstrong Quotes
“What we play is life.”
– Louis Armstrong, from Brainy Quote
“If we couldn’t laugh, we would all go insane.”
– Louis Armstrong, from Good Reads
“If you have to ask what jazz is, you’ll never know.”
– Louis Armstrong, from Good Reads
“What a wonderful world”
– Louis Armstrong, from Good Reads
“I see my life in terms of music.”
– Louis Armstrong, from Good Reads
“Music is the universal language of mankind.”
– Louis Armstrong, from Good Reads
8 Louis Armstrong Quotes About Love
“All music is folk music. I ain’t never heard a horse sing a song”
– Louis Armstrong, from GRAMMY.com
“The memory of things gone is important to a jazz musician”
– Louis Armstrong, from GRAMMY.com
“If you have to ask what jazz is, you’ll never know”
– Louis Armstrong, from GRAMMY.com
“Jazz is the only music in which you can cry and laugh at the same time”
– Louis Armstrong, from The Culture Trip
“The soul of music is not in the notes, but in the silence between them”
– Louis Armstrong, from The Culture Trip
“I don’t know anything about music. In my line you don’t have to”
– Louis Armstrong, from Mental Floss
“If you have to ask what it is, you’ll never know”
– Louis Armstrong, from Mental Floss
“It’s not the note you play that’s the wrong note – it’s the note you play afterwards that makes it right or wrong”
– Louis Armstrong, from The Culture Trip
5 Louis Armstrong Quotes About Life
“I think that this is the greatest country in the world, but there are so many things we still have to learn”
– Louis Armstrong, from Jazz in America
“If you have to ask what jazz is, you’ll never know.”
– Louis Armstrong, from Jazz in America
“I’d like to hear the world sing in perfect harmony.”
– Louis Armstrong, from Jazz in America
“If you have to ask, it’s not true love.”
– Louis Armstrong, from YouTube
“If you ain’t got it in you, you can’t blow it out.”
– Louis Armstrong, from YouTube
5 Quotes About Louis Armstrong
“He was a genius. He was a master. He was an innovator. He was an incredible artist.”
– Wynton Marsalis, from NPR
“What Louis Armstrong did was to carry the spirit of the blues, the spirit of the gospel, and the spirit of the African-American people to the world.”
– Carlos Santana, from Biography.com
“He was an innovator, a poet, a showman, and a supremely talented trumpet player.”
– David Hajdu, from The New York Times
“He was the first to put feeling and emotion into music.”
– Miles Davis, from Miles Davis.com
“He was a revolutionary artist, and he changed the course of music.”
– Wynton Marsalis, from NPR
Interview with Louis Armstrong
Frequently Asked Questions About Louis Armstrong
1. Where did Louis Armstrong get his inspiration for his quotes?
Louis Armstrong was an iconic jazz musician and entertainer with a unique and inspirational outlook on life. His quotes and sayings are often cited by people of all ages and backgrounds, and he was known for having a positive and uplifting attitude. So where did Louis Armstrong get his inspiration for his quotes?
- He drew inspiration from his own life experiences, sharing his wisdom and insight with his fans and admirers.
- He was also strongly influenced by the people he encountered along the way. He was known for being open to different cultures and perspectives, which led to him having a deep appreciation for the world around him.
- Armstrong was also heavily influenced by the music he was playing. His love for jazz and the improvisational nature of the genre allowed him to express himself in ways that many others could not.
- In addition to his life experiences, Armstrong was also inspired by the people around him. His quotes often reflect the advice and encouragement he received from his friends and mentors.
- Finally, Armstrong was a firm believer in the power of positive thinking, and his quotes often reflect his optimistic outlook on life.
Louis Armstrong’s quotes are a testament to his life and his ability to inspire others. He was able to draw on his own life experiences and the people he encountered in order to create quotes that continue to touch people’s hearts.
2. What are some of the most famous quotes attributed to Louis Armstrong?
Louis Armstrong was an American jazz musician and singer-songwriter who was one of the most influential figures in jazz music. He was a master at his craft, and his music and quotes continue to inspire people today. Here are some of his most famous quotes:
- “If you have to ask what jazz is, you’ll never know.”
- “What we play is life.”
- “If you have to play one note, play it loud.”
- “The only thing better than singing is more singing.”
- “When you hit a wrong note, it’s the next note that makes it good or bad.”
- “There is two kinds of music, the good and the bad. I play the good kind.”
- “All music is folk music. I ain’t never heard a horse sing a song.”
- “When you’re sad, just remember there’s always someone who loves you and cares for you.”
3. Are there any Louis Armstrong quotes that are still relevant today?
Louis Armstrong is widely considered one of the most influential jazz musicians of all time. He was also an incredibly witty and wise man, and many of his quotes are still relevant today. Here are some of the most popular Louis Armstrong quotes that are still relevant today:
- “If you have to ask what jazz is, you’ll never know.”
- “What we play is life.”
- “It’s not the note you play that’s the wrong note – it’s the note you play afterwards that makes it right or wrong.”
- “If you have to play one note, play it loud.”
- “The only thing better than singing is more singing.”
- “Life is like a trumpet – if you don’t put anything into it, you don’t get anything out of it.”
- “A hunch is creativity trying to tell you something.”
- “Satchmo is my nickname, but I’m Louis to my friends.”
These quotes from Louis Armstrong are a great reminder that music is an integral part of life and that creativity and hard work will always reap rewards. His words are still relevant today and can be applied to any aspect of life.
4. How did Louis Armstrong’s quotes influence the Jazz movement?
Louis Armstrong had an immense impact on the Jazz movement, not only through his music, but also through his quotes and words of wisdom. Armstrong was an outspoken advocate of the Jazz movement, and his quotes provided inspiration and insight to aspiring Jazz musicians and fans alike. His quotes helped to spread the message of Jazz and its unique culture, and his words continue to resonate today. Here are some of the ways in which Armstrong’s quotes influenced the Jazz movement:
- Armstrong’s quotes encouraged listeners to embrace their own unique musical styles and follow their passions. He was a staunch believer in the power of individual creativity, and his quotes enabled listeners to find their own voice within the genre.
- Armstrong’s quotes helped to promote a sense of community and solidarity among Jazz musicians and fans. His words provided a source of inspiration and camaraderie, and helped to bring people together who shared a love of Jazz music.
- Armstrong’s quotes also provided a source of motivation and encouragement for those who were just beginning to explore the world of Jazz. His words of wisdom inspired aspiring Jazz musicians to pursue their dreams and hone their craft.
- Finally, Armstrong’s quotes helped to spread the message of Jazz to a wider audience. His words enabled people to better understand the genre and appreciate its unique culture, and helped to build a larger and more diverse fan base for the genre.
Overall, Louis Armstrong’s quotes had an immense impact on the Jazz movement. His words provided inspiration and insight to aspiring Jazz musicians and fans, and helped to spread the genre to a wider audience. His quotes continue to resonate today and serve as a reminder of the power of individual creativity and the importance of embracing one’s own unique style.
5. How did Louis Armstrong’s quotes impact the civil rights movement?
Louis Armstrong’s quotes had a massive impact on the civil rights movement. Armstrong was a passionate advocate of civil rights and his words inspired many people to fight for justice and equality. Here are some of Armstrong’s quotes that had a powerful impact on the civil rights movement:
- “A man must be big enough to admit his mistakes, smart enough to profit from them, and strong enough to correct them.”
- “I think it’s high time we stand up and talk about our rights and the things we want and need.”
- “It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing.”
- “There are some of us in this old world of ours who can’t stand the way some people treat others.”
- “What we play is life.”
These quotes from Armstrong reminded people that everyone should be given equal rights and helped to inspire the civil rights movement. Armstrong’s words also served to spread the message that the fight for civil rights was an important one and that everyone should be involved. His quotes had a powerful effect on the civil rights movement, and they will continue to inspire people to strive for justice and equality for many years to come.
Conclusion
Louis Armstrong is an American jazz legend and one of the most influential musicians of all time. His unique style of playing trumpet and singing has inspired generations of musicians, and his profound lyrics and quotes have left a lasting impression on music history. Armstrong’s quotes are a testament to his passion for music and his zest for life, which he shared with anyone who was willing to listen. His legacy will continue to remain a source of inspiration and joy for people around the world.
