Satchmo: The Louis Armstrong Encyclopedia

by Michael Meckna

Overview

When pressed to name the most influential musician of the 20th century, many music historians will name Louis Satchmo Armstrong. Born in New Orleans in 1901 and recording into the 1970s, Armstrong is known as the father of jazz, the one figure most credited with moving the Western world from the age of classical music and Tin Pan Alley pop standards into an exciting new era of swing and hot jazz. Michael Meckna's book is the authoritative reference on Armstrong. Alphabetically arranged entries give detailed information on the many aspects of Armstrong's life and music. An appendix of CD releases includes entries that detail the record company, date of issue, song list, and performer list. Other appendices include a chronology, a list of movies, and a resource guide to Satchmo on the Web; a bibliography offers yet another useful tool for fans and students of Armstrong's life and music. A selection of historic black-and-white photos completes the volume.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780313301377
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	05/30/2004
Pages:	448
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 10.00(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

MICHAEL MECKNA is Professor of Music History at Texas Christian University. He is also the author of Twentieth-Century Brass Soloists (Greenwood, 1994).

Table of Contents

Preface
Satchmo's Life and Music A to Z
Appendix I: Satchmo on CD
Appendix II: Chronology
Appendix III: Movies
Appendix IV: On the Web
Selected Bibliography
Photographs

Editorial Reviews

Louis Armstrong is probably the best-known musician in the history of jazz. He has been the subject of over 100 books and countless magazine articles. Meckna (Twentieth-Century Brass Soloists) has created a resource that aims to get a firm grip on this formidable body of material. The 2000-plus alphabetical entries vary in length from several sentences to several pages, depending on the subject. Topics include both professional and personal information, e.g., Armstrong's four marriages, musicians associated with Armstrong (including trumpeters he influenced), and songs that he performed. While the author seems to know his subject well, the book suffers from repetition. Some of the entries borrow text from one another. For example, under "Associated Booking Corporation," readers learn about Joe Glaser's booking of black artists; this information is repeated in the entry for Joe Glaser (Armstrong's longtime manager). In that same entry, it is implied that he was involved in pedophilia and rape, but this information is never supported. When such strong accusations are made, they should not be given as a throwaway remark. Bottom Line While this book has some useful features and is the first encyclopedia devoted to Armstrong, the quality is lacking. Libraries are better off relying on The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz, 2d ed.-Ronald S. Russ, Arkansas State Univ. Lib., Beebe Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Library Journal

[T]his is the first encyclopedia devoted solely to the Founding Father of Jazz. Meckna's authoritative and comprehensive encyclopedia covers such topics as Armstrong's musical and personal life, his influence, his musical associates, and recordings….[s]cholars of music or American history will find much useful information in this encyclopedia….Libraries supporting study of jazz or 20th-century American history should acquire this work. Highly recommended. All levels.” —Choice

“[T]his book has some useful features and is the first encyclopedia devoted to Armstrong.” —Library Jourbanal

“[B]ring[s] together all the current knowledge of the man and his music.” —Reference Reviews

“This encyclopedia is a comprehensive compendium of the life and work of one of the most influential and pervasive jazz entertainers of the twentieth century….[t]he only reference source focused solely on the legendary jazz trumpeter. Biographies on Armstrong abound, but Satchmo should become the premier quick-access source for information on his style, legacy, critical reception, films, writings, and recordings….[t]his is an excellent resource academic and large public libraries.” —Booklist/Reference Books Bulletin

From the Publisher