This year has been a brutal, soul-sucking slog. And we have at least 3 more brutal and soul-sucking years left of this administration to go — if they don’t kill us all, first. So let’s get to it.
- MTV was launched 44 years ago on August 1
- Coolio was born 62 years ago on August 1
- Def Leppard frontman Joe Elliott celebrated his 66th birthday on August 1
- Public Enemy‘s Chuck D. celebrated his 64th birthday on August 1
- Butch Vig celebrated his 70th — yes, y’all 70th! — birthday on August 2
- Echo and the Bunnymen‘s first dummer Pete de Freitas was born 64 years ago on August 2.
- Collective Soul‘s frontman Ed Roland celebrated his 62nd birthday on August 3
- Metallica‘s James Hetfield celebrated his 62nd birthday on August 3
The iconic Louis Armstrong was born 124 years ago on August 4. You can’t talk about the influence Blacks have had on American culture without mentioning Satchmo.
Armstrong is one of the most important and influential figures in jazz with his work spanning several different eras and styles across its history. And each successive era had artists, who responded to his work in some way or another. Along with his influence on jazz, Armstrong’s influence on pop and all other forms of modern music has been equally towering.
And as native-born Corona, Queens boy, the fact that this towering and legendary figure lived about 15 minutes or so from me and adored my neighborhood fills me with great pride.
Happy birthday, Louis! Happy birthday, wherever you are!
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