Episode 5
Louis befriends Al Capone. He's singing and dancing for white audiences, but is he selling out? Concluded by Colin McFarlane.
A definitive account by Thomas Brothers of Louis Armstrong, his life and legacy, during the most creative period of his career.
Nearly 100 years after bursting onto Chicago's music scene under the tutelage of Joe 'King' Oliver, Louis Armstrong is recognized as one of the most influential artists of the twentieth century. A trumpet virtuoso, seductive crooner, and consummate entertainer, Armstrong laid the foundation for the future of jazz with his stylistic innovations. But his story would be incomplete without examining how he struggled in a society seething with brutally racist ideologies, laws, and practices.
Episode 5:
Louis befriends Al Capone. He's singing and dancing for white audiences, and embracing the popular big band sound, but is he selling out?
Reader: Colin McFarlane
Abridged by Eileen Horne
Produced by Clive Brill
A Pacificus production for BBC Radio 4
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Credits
| Role | Contributor |
|---|---|
| Reader | Colin McFarlane |
| Producer | Clive Brill |
| Abridger | Eileen Horne |
| Author | Thomas Brothers |
Broadcasts
Fri 11 Apr 201409:45BBC Radio 4 FM- Sat 12 Apr 201400:30BBC Radio 4
- Fri 1 Mar 201914:45BBC Radio 4 Extra
- Sat 2 Mar 201902:45BBC Radio 4 Extra
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