[Dixielandjazz] Entertainers vs. Artists

[Larry Walton Entertainment - St. Louis]

> Speculation makes me to wonder what would have
> been if Satchmo never tried to please his public.
> Cheers,

Well maybe nothing.  His style and influence could not have spread so 
quickly without first the musicians around him acting as musical 
missionaries of sorts.  He first impressed them musically.  After that 
though it was recordings, then radio and the movies then TV.  It's the radio 
and TV that went out to the masses and it was critical to be an entertainer. 
He did grow into it and was certainly up to the challenge as the demands 
became more.

I have maintained for a long time that a person to make it big has to be 
multi talented as of course he was.  He was able to keep more than one ball 
in the air at one time.   Although I think he dumbed things down a bit for 
the TV audience with more nice tunes and a little less jazz.  I think if you 
wanted to hear him play jazz you would have had to take in his act live. 
That's just speculation on my part but I'm more impressed with his earlier 
work than his TV shows that I remember.
Larry
St. Louis
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "AL LEVY" <jazz_man at ix.netcom.com>
To: "Larry Walton" <larrys.bands at charter.net>
Cc: "Dixieland Jazz Mailing List" <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Tuesday, July 31, 2007 11:54 AM
Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] Entertainers vs. Artists


> Once, in a conversation with Dr., Dr., Dr. Billy Taylor
> he mentioned that in his opinion "An artist pleases himself
> while an entertainer strives to please the audience."
> He highlighted Louis Armstrong stating that he was a great
> innovator and jazz musician who became an entertainer.
> Speculation makes me to wonder what would have
> been if Satchmo never tried to please his public.
> Cheers,
> Al
> Pianist, Composer, Arranger, Conductor, Teacher and Music Prep.
> Please visit me at
> http://alevy.com
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