Most important artists
Louis Armstrong was one of the best trumpet players and jazz singers of all time. Audiences loved his raspy voice, as well as his often-humorous scat singing. His is considered the ‘father of modern Jazz’. This may be due to the joy that he was able to bring to and with his music.
Duke Ellington was a really important pianist and composer. He was also one of the best band leaders of all time. However, he didn’t only play Jazz, but he also played other genres such as gospel, blues, classical, popular and soundtrack. He made Jazz an art form thanks to his charisma and inventive use of his orchestra. He received several awards including 13 Grammy awards, a Pulitzer prize, a Presidential Medal of Freedom, a NAACP Spingarn Medal and Commemorative U.S. quarter to name a few.
Ella Fitzgerald was a really important and excellent musician who developed a unique scat singing style. In fact, she was also able to imitate several instruments with her voice. During her career, she managed to delight audiences and use a vocal timbre and technique that still today remains unmatched.
Johnny Hartman was mostly known for the album John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman (Impulse!, 1963), even though he was a really talented musician. His voice complemented Coltrane’s yearning melodies perfectly.
Frank Sinatra’s career started during the swing era, when he was singing with Tommy Dorsey’s big band. He became really popular during the 40s and starred musical films such as Anchus Aweigh. He belonged to the ‘Rat Pack’ in the 60s, a group that included Sammy Davis, Jr, and Dean Martin and performed on stage and in films. He then went on performing and recording best-selling albums.
Nat ‘King’ Cole, who originally worked as a pianist, became popular in the 40s as a jazz singer performing ‘Straighten Up and Fly Right’. ‘His music was influenced by the African-American folk music tradition and rock n’ roll, and won popularity among a large audience’. He had a soft and alluring baritone voice; and he had to deal with racism, but he managed to become huge.
Dinah Washington started singing in the gospel church and as she grew up she started playing piano and conducting her church choir. When she was 18, ‘she joined Lionel Hampton’s big band and developed a rousing vocal style with which she used to make many popular recordings in the veins of jazz, blues, and R&B’. She is one of Aretha’s biggest influences.