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Louis befriends Al Capone. He's singing and dancing for white audiences, but is he selling out? Concluded by Colin McFarlane.

A definitive account by Thomas Brothers of Louis Armstrong, his life and legacy, during the most creative period of his career.

Nearly 100 years after bursting onto Chicago's music scene under the tutelage of Joe 'King' Oliver, Louis Armstrong is recognized as one of the most influential artists of the twentieth century. A trumpet virtuoso, seductive crooner, and consummate entertainer, Armstrong laid the foundation for the future of jazz with his stylistic innovations. But his story would be incomplete without examining how he struggled in a society seething with brutally racist ideologies, laws, and practices.

Episode 5:
Louis befriends Al Capone. He's singing and dancing for white audiences, and embracing the popular big band sound, but is he selling out?

Reader: Colin McFarlane
Abridged by Eileen Horne

Produced by Clive Brill
A Pacificus production for 大象传媒 Radio 4

15 minutes

Last on

Sat 2 Mar 2019 02:45

Credits

Role Contributor
Reader Colin McFarlane
Producer Clive Brill
Abridger Eileen Horne
Author Thomas Brothers

Broadcasts

  • Fri 11 Apr 2014 09:45
  • Sat 12 Apr 2014 00:30
  • Fri 1 Mar 2019 14:45
  • Sat 2 Mar 2019 02:45

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