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Letter of Recommendation: Louis Armstrong

One of my favorite memories from my childhood was Sunday afternoons. My dad used to cook pancakes on the stove with a Louis Armstrong CD playing in the living room. I remember going into the kitchen to find my dad snapping his fingers, my mom setting the table, the aroma of brunch filling up the room.

Even today, I still have those albums, and I hold them dear to my heart. I downloaded them to my phone, where I listen to them frequently. Music is always my go-to support system. For every emotion, every experience, there is a song that describes a situation perfectly. My Louis Armstrong albums are not only a symbol of my childhood, but they take me back to a rich part of American history.

At its time, jazz pushed the boundaries of music, in rules and social ideals. It opened up a whole world of possibilities, although it was highly controversial when it first started. It didn’t conform to classical music, and some worried it would destroy young generations. On the contrary, music has continued to evolve and change since then. Jazz music found a way to do just as people do with music today – express things they can’t any other way.

In the middle of it all, Louis Armstrong, one of the greatest known jazz musicians from the 1920s, captivated audiences with his originality, voice, and trumpet skills. From his classics such as Hello Dolly and Blueberry Hill, to the beautiful song What a Wonderful World, Louis Armstrong’s works tell stories or bring powerful messages. Even between albums, different recordings feature different versions of the same song. Lyrics and improvised trumpet parts are different, between versions, and these songs still entertain and surprise me.

Not every music style will appeal to everyone. Those with different music tastes than my own may not care for jazz, but they may find something else equally interesting. What I recommend is this – Find some old music, music that brings back memories, and brings back good feelings. With new music constantly being released, people sometimes forget to explore older music too.

To me, Louis Armstrong represents good times, of the warm fuzzy feelings of being with my family on the weekends, and enjoying each moment without stress. Listening to older music brings back memories, and I find new things I never thought I’d be interested in. I make an effort to listen to a wide variety of music, not only today’s hits but the past hits too. What is found may be unexpected, and it’s worth the time.

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