Pops: A Life of Louis Armstrong

excellent writing

I gave this book to a friend who happens to be a musician and an authority on jazz. He told me that he's read many books on Armstrong, but unlike many of the others, "Pops" is extremely well written and has unique facts on Armstrong that he never knew. He loves the book!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A joy to read

A biography of one of the most likeable musical giants ever -- a story of a nice guy who *didn't* finish last, or die of a heroin overdose, or suffer any of the sad fates of too many of his colleagues, and who made epochal contributions to jazz. And the book is well-written, by a musically knowledgeable writer. Some people have jumped on Armstrong for not having been more aggressive in promoting racial equality; that's an unfair comparison to people born decades later, and/or whose lives were dedicated to politics and not to entertainment. Teachout doesn't skirt those issues, but discusses them (in my opinion) with sensitivity and fairness.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

TERRY THE TERRIOR

TERRY TEACHOUT HAS AGAIN WRITTEN A MASTERFUL COMPILATION OF A WELL KNOWN CELEBRETY AND FILLED THE BOOK WITH PREVEIOUSLY UNKNOWN UNAPPRECIATED FACTS AND FABULOUSLY WRITTEN A PANORAMA OF AMRMSTRONG'S GENIUS. HIS ARTICLES IN THE WALL STREET JOURNAL SERVE AS A PLATFORM FOR HIS AUTHITINICITY. MAX THE KNIFE

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Portrait of a Jazz Innovator

Fine, readable compression of Louis Armstrong's life; well-documented with primary and secondary sources.

The music is important and listening to Louis Armstrong will make the book come alive for you. Pay especial attention to the music by the Hot Fives and Hot Sevens from the early days. His voice is great, but his horn is magical, even when his accompanists are less than perfect.

Great

I really enjoyed this book. I had been searching for a good biography of Louis Armstrong, and this is it. It is a tribute the the genius that he was.

Great Man and Artist

Louis Armstrong could bridge the gap between blacks and whites when few could. The book should appeal to anyone interested in Jazz, or the life of an extraordinary and loving person. The words effortlessly fly off the page. Mr. Teachout can sure write.

My Dad Loved Louis"

One of my fathers requests for his funeral was "What A Wonderful World" be played. We both loved the song, well before the film "Good Morning Vietnam" brought the tune to mass attention. Yet "Pops" points out that too many black activists felt that song and his white teeth smile and "Uncle Tom" ways made Louis a sell out, a Uncle Tom. Some aspects of his life were new to me. The gansters of his era tried to book him in their establishments. His 1930 marijuana bust didn't stop his intake all that much. Some critics, club owners, and musicians didn't care for Louis all the time. I can't understand why, but after reading "Pops" I know why my Dad and millions loved the man

Understanding Louis

Most of us think we have some understanding of who Louis Armstrong was. Don't be so sure until you read this excellent and well-researched biography. Terry Teachout brings to life the early years in New Orleans that shaped Armstrong musically and personally but just as easily could have destroyed him. That he became an American icon, Teachout shows, is a tribute to Armstrong's incredible work ethic, musical genius and passion for pleasing his audience. While fellow musicians recognized his genius, some eventually turned critical, believing Armstrong had nothing new to say and had become more minstrel than jazzman. The great contribution of this book is that it does belated justice to a man whose legacy had slipped out of focus and it does so with expertise made digestible by excellent writing and research. Well done, Mr. Teachout!

Pops

This year, for Christmas, I got my husband one of the top new biographies of 2009: Pops, a biography of Louis Armstrong, by Terry Teachout. As it happens, that's also what David gave me--and he even used the same wrapping paper I did, so it was a confusing and then amusing moment when the time came to open gifts last Friday. Teachout is the drama critic for the Wall Street Journal and a former jazz musician, and this book is even better than his columns. The writing reads like Fred Astaire's dancing: It looks effortless, as though the artist is just a conduit for something that already exists elsewhere in perfect form. Of course, it's really the product of an unimaginable amount of work. Teachout was able to access documents, photographs, and 650 reels of audio files not used by previous biographers; for me, it's his (not-uncritical) love of the man and the performer that makes the book a pleasure to read from start to... well, start to middle, because I'm not yet finished. I'm taking the time to savor the words, while "Basin Street Blues" and "Mac the Knife" play in the background.

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