User:Nmarinaccio

Musicians

Nat King Cole

File:///Users/nmarinaccio14/Desktop/Nat-King-Cole-9253026-1-402.jpg

Was born in Montgomery, Alabama on March 17, 1919 and passed away on February 15, 1965 due to lung cancer.
He was a vocalist and was also able to play the piano as well.
Nat King Cole was a big contributor to Jazz music standing out among the crowd with his very soft, baritone voice. He was first identified as being a jazz pianist and was able to grow as a vocalist on top of his piano skill set. Cole was mainly a soloist but not shy when it came to performing with other exceptional artists and musicians.
His music was honored with many awards including the Grammy Lifetime Achievement award, and was inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame, the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame, the Down Beat Jazz Hall of Fame, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and the Hit Parade Hall of Fame.
Interesting facts:

He had his own television show on NBC called The Nat King Cole show. It never received national sponsorship, and was only aired for a little after a year due to Nat himself wanting to pull the plug.
Cole dealt with racism all of his life, but was confronted with the KKK after moving into an all white neighborhood in 1948. They placed a burning cross on the front of his lawn to show him that they did not want any "undesirables" moving in.
He had a total of 2 marriages but had affairs throughout both of them and shared 5 children between both wives.

List of Songs:

Unforgettable
Smile
Mona Lisa
When I Fall In Love

Videos:

I chose Nat King Cole because of his magical touch with the piano and his well known voice. I was raised listening to his music and was already very familiar with his style of music before taking the course. He was one of a kind and could truly move a crowd with just his voice. His songs are so romantic and so relatable that it's hard for anyone not to enjoy his music.

Louis Armstrong

Was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on August 4, 1901 and passed away on July 6, 1971 from a heart attack in his sleep.
Armstrong was a magnificent trumpet player and cornet player as well as a vocalist.
Louis was another main contributor to the Jazz music industry, his raspy voice was one of a kind along with this smooth trumpet playing skills. He was known for improvising and bending certain notes and phrases for emphasis and feeling. He was considered to be a "scat singer" which meant that instead of actual lyrics he would make sounds to go along to the beat and rhythm of the music. Armstrong was a soloist performer but would work with other influential musicians.
Armstrong was awarded by the Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1972 as well as The Special Merit Award. His recordings were inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Interesting Facts:

He adopted his son, Clarence Armstrong who was mentally disabled, and took care of him his whole life.
Armstrong was nicknamed Satchelmouth after his younger years, when he would dance for pennies on the streets of New Orleans and would have to hide the pennies in his mouth so the other children wouldn't steal them.
Louis would wear the Star of David around his neck to honor the family who took him in when he was little and lent him enough money to buy his first cornet.

List of Songs:

What a Wonderful World
A Kiss to Build A Dream On
Let's Call The Whole Thing Off
Hello Dolly

Videos:

I chose Louis Armstrong because he was a crucial part in the founding of Jazz music. His gravelly voice tied together with his beautiful trumpet playing is so unique. It would be crazy not to include him in a Jazz band with other amazing musicians.

Ella Fitzgerald

Was born April 25, 1917 in Newport News, Virginia and died June 15, 1996.
She was a swing, traditional pop, Jazz vocalist.
Ella Fitzgerald was a huge contributor to Jazz music. She was widely referred to as the "First Lady of Song" and the "Queen of Jazz". Her voice could reach 3 octaves and "sold 40 million copies of her 70 plus albums". She first started out apart of a band but just like Cole and Armstrong, Fitzgerald was mainly a soloist performer.
She won a Lifetime Achievement award in 1967 and 13 Grammy awards. Other awards include the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Medal of Art, Society of Singers Lifetime Achievement Award, Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the George and Ira Gershwin Award.
Interesting Facts:

She had to have both of her legs amputated due to diabetes.
Ella appeared in many TV commercials but her most memorable one was for Memorex. The commercial had her singing this note that literally shattered the glass in the recording studio.
She made many guest appearances on TV shows and starred in numerous movies.

List of Songs:

Summertime
Dream a Little Dream of Me
Fly Me to The Moon
The Lady is A Tramp

Videos:

I chose Ella Fitzgerald because of her remarkably clear 3 octave reaching voice. It is one that like the others, is unforgettable. She didn't even have to sing actual lyrics to make a note sound absolutely beautiful.

Billie Holiday

Was born April 7, 1915 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and died on July 17, 1959 due to liver and heart disease.
She was a phenomenal singer and songwriter.
Billie Holiday was an influential contributor to Jazz music and was strongly inspired by Jazz instruments.
She was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, presented the Grammy Award for Best Historical Album, Best Leading Female Vocalist, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, ASCAP Jazz Hall of Fame, Ertegun Jazz Hall of Fame, and honored with many other awards.
Interesting Facts:

She was a heavy drug addict and was arrested for the possession of narcotics. She pled guilty and was sentenced to Alderson Federal Prison Camp.
Starred in her only major film called New Orleans.
Billie dropped out of school at the age of 11 years old.

List of Songs:

Strange Fruit
The Very Thought of You
I'll Be Seeing You
Ain't Misbehavin'

Videos:

I chose Billie Holiday because she has a very distinct voice. To me, her voice belonged against the Jazz instruments. It is crazy how well her voice sounds with other key instruments to back it up.

Songs

Summertime

The song is around 2:52
It is a powerful yet relaxing song that has a lot of good vocals as well as trumpet, piano, drums, and other excellent instrument performances. It gives you this feeling like anything is possible because it's the summertime and living is care free. Anything is possible in the summer because you no longer have any worries. The instruments are beautiful and lure you in like a soft lullaby. The notes are very soothing but not too soft and just when it gets very quiet the notes strike you with a loud rhythm.
There will be two solos given to Louis Armstrong when the trumpet comes in and the other one given to Nat King Cole on the piano. The trumpet solo must go in the beginning of the song and the piano towards the end.
The song will be distributed through iTunes Download, making it easy for people to get to it.

Dream a Little Dream of Me

The song is around 3:07
The song itself is very soothing but I think Ella's voice along with Louis' trumpet are like magic. It is such a romantic song with lyrics as well as "scat singing". The whole song is about being in love and longing to kiss your loved one and be with that special someone. The notes are very soft and lovely.
I think that it should be a duet between Ella and Nat King Cole, with Louis Armstrong playing the trumpet.
The song will also be distributed through iTunes music download.

The Very Thought of You

The song is around 2:48
As well as the first 2 songs that I have chosen for the band to perform, this is another romantic one. The piano is very unique in this particular piece, it definitely stands out to me. The song is about thinking about someone is just a loving romantic light. That, that person is exactly perfect in every way and every time you think of them you get shivers up and down your spine. Its so beautifully written and you can hear each instrument so clearly.
Louis shall play the trumpet, Billie and Nat shall be the vocalists.
This song will be distributed through iTunes music download.

What a Wonderful World

The song is around 2:18
The song is about being grateful for the life you've been given and to appreciate what you are constantly surrounded by everyday. The song was written for none other than Louis Armstrong. His raspy, gravelly voice hits a chord in everyone when it is played. It is such a beautiful song and the instruments once again blend together so peacefully.
Louis Armstrong shall be the lead vocalist with both Ella and Billie as background artists.
The song will be distributed through iTunes music download.

On Tour

The band will travel by train with all of their equipment; That includes: trumpets, drums, bass, trombones, pianos, clarinet, and guitar.
They will perform in music halls, theaters, stadiums, and festivals.
They will perform on an every other weekend basis giving them some free time to travel and do what they please in between performing.
Their audience will range from younger kids to older adults. Although older adults will mainly appreciate this style of music.
The musicians will be paid after each event that they perform based on how much money is made from tickets and other expenses and divided evenly between the 4 musicians.

References