August is a very busy month in music history:
- MTV was launched 43 years ago on August 1
- Coolio was born on this day 61 years ago on August 1
- Def Leppard frontman Joe Elliott celebrated his 65th birthday on August 1
- Public Enemy‘s Chuck D. celebrated his 64th birthday on August 1
- Butch Vig celebrates his 69th birthday today
- Echo and the Bunnymen‘s first dummer Pete de Freitas was born 63 years ago on August 2
- Metallica‘s James Hetfield celebrated his 61st birthday on August 3
- Collective Soul‘s frontman Ed Roland celebrated his 61st birthday on August 3
- Beastie Boys‘ MCA, a.k.a. Adan Yauch was born 60 years ago on August 5
The iconic Louis Armstrong was born 123 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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