Celebrating the Birthday of Louis Armstrong

Trumpeter and vocalist Louis Armstrong, also known as Satchmo, Satch, and Pops, was born in New Orleans on August 4, 1901. He is the most famous and influential jazz musician of all time, and was a beloved American icon and cultural ambassador. He was born into poverty, learned to play the coronet at the Colored Waif’s Home for Boys in 1913, and emerged as a trumpet virtuoso whose highly inventive, improvised solos transformed jazz. His distinctive, gravelly voice and charismatic stage presence propelled him to great popularity, both at home and internationally, and not just with his musical recordings, but on radio, films and television. He has innumerable popular songs, but he is best known for the heartwarming “What A Wonderful World” and the cheerful “Hello Dolly”, for which he won a Grammy in 1964. Armstrong passed away in his sleep from a heart attack, a month before his 70th birthday, on July 6, 1971. A 12-foot statue of Armstrong, trumpet in hand, is located in Louis Armstrong Park, located in the Tremé neighborhood of New Orleans, just across from the French Quarter.

Satchmo Summerfest is the premier American festival dedicated to the life, legacy, and music of New Orleans' native son, Louis Armstrong, and it takes place at the New Orleans Jazz Museum at the U.S. Mint the first weekend of August.

Happy Birthday, Amanda Shaw!

Cajun fiddler, singer and actress Amanda Christian Amaya-Shaw was born on August 2, 1990, in Mandeville, Louisiana, and she studied classical violin starting at age four. At the age of eight, she began playing and performing Cajun music, and also became the youngest soloist to perform in the Baton Rouge Symphony. In 2008, Shaw opted to obtain her G.E.D. rather than complete her schooling so she could travel around the country to perform.

Shaw was inspired by musicians Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, Bonnie Raitt, and others, and remained devoted to her culture and musical heritage. Her music is a diverse blend of Cajun and country, with some blues and rock n roll mixed in. Shaw and her band, The Cute Guys, appear throughout the New Orleans area, including at the annual New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and French Quarter Festival. She has recorded albums and EPs, and has appeared in two Disney Channel movies filmed in New Orleans. Shaw was one of the narrators in the 2006 documentary Hurricane on the Bayou, about Hurricane Katrina and the erosion of Louisiana's wetlands. The film features her music along with that of co-narrator Tab Benoit and New Orleans native Allen Toussaint. Her talent has been recognized by many, and she has received numerous awards including the Big Easy Award for Best Female Entertainer, Louisiana Music Hall of Fame Future Famer, and Offbeat Magazine’s Best of the Beat.

Shaw is an eminently talented musician with a magnetic personality. Be sure to catch her and her band at your next opportunity. Until then, let’s celebrate her talent by wishing her a very happy birthday!

Photo: Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau

Happy Birthday, Delfeayo Marsalis!

Trombonist, producer and educator Delfeayo Marsalis was born in New Orleans on July 28, 1965, and is the son of Ellis Louis Marsalis, Jr., a pianist and music professor. He is also the grandson of Ellis Marsalis, Sr., and the brother of Wynton Marsalis (trumpeter), Branford Marsalis (saxophonist), and Jason Marsalis (drummer). Delfeayo also has two brothers who are not musicians, Ellis Marsalis III and Mboya Kenyatta. Delfeayo founded the New Orleans-based Uptown Music Theatre in 2000, which has trained over 300 youth and staged eight original musicals, all of which are based upon the mission of "community unity". Delfeayo has recorded 8 of his own albums and is known for his work as a producer of acoustic jazz recordings. He is a graduate of Berklee College of Music, and in 2004 received an MA in jazz performance from the University of Louisville. Marsalis, with his father and brothers, are group recipients of the 2011 NEA Jazz Masters Award. Today we celebrate the birthday of an incredibly talented musician and producer. Happy Birthday, Delfeayo!

Photo: Delfeayo Marsalis

Happy Birthday, Little Freddie King!

Delta Blues guitarist Little Freddie King, born Fread Eugene Martin, celebrates his birthday on July 19th. Born in Mississippi in 1940, he moved to New Orleans at age 14. He performed in juke joints with legendary blues artists, and played with luminaries Bo Diddley and John Lee Hooker, as well as playing bass for Freddy King. Style comparisons between the two artists led to his use of the name “Little Freddie King”, though his playing sounds more like his cousin, Lightnin’ Hopkins, He is a three-time New Orleans “Blues Performer of the Year”, he is also a member of the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame. Happy Birthday, Freddie!

Happy Birthday, Stanton Moore!

Funk, jazz and rock drummer Stanton Moore was born in New Orleans on July 9, 1972. A founding member of Galactic, Moore has also pursued a solo recording career and has recorded with numerous bands of diverse music genres. Moore also teaches New Orleans drumming, including running drum camps and his own Drum Academy. He also writes for drumming publications, and develops instructional books and videos. Happy Birthday, Stanton!

Photo by: Sam Friedman https://www.flickr.com/photos/friedpixphoto

Happy Birthday, Shamarr Allen!

Trumpeter, vocalist, composer, writer and producer Shamarr Allen was born in New Orleans on July 4, 1980, and hails from the Lower 9th Ward. He has influences in jazz, hip-hop, rock, funk rhythms, blues and country, and is the lead vocalist and trumpeter of his band “Shamarr Allen & The Underdawgs.” In addition to performing with his band, Allen has collaborated with many renowned artists around the world such as Willie Nelson, Patti LaBelle, Galatic, Harrick Connick Jr, and Lenny Kravitz, to name a few. He is a sought after artist for festivals and venues around the world. In addition to displaying his skills on the front-line as a lead performer, Allen is also a music composer, writer, and producer. With a scintillating and unique sound, look, and exemplary talents, Shamarr Allen transcends musical boundaries. He is the True Orleans experience! Happy Birthday, Shamarr!

Photo: Facebook