;t demand respect from whites and he smiled too much when he was in public (Crouch 171). In Armstrong’s opinion he didn’t understand what he was doing wrong. He had ignored prejudice because he had been taught to respect people unless they had personally disrespected him (Brown 92). It was in 1955 that Louis Armstrong was made America’s musical ambassador. He traveled throughout the world on the United States behalf and even made an album titled, Ambassador Satch. All over the world he was respected and welcomed to perform nearly anywhere he chose. Hello Dolly, Armstrong’s most well known song was recorded in 1964. It hit number one on the Billboard charts on April 8th. It was accompanied by one of movies he starred in which shared the same title. For the next seven years of his life he was in and out of the hospital due to heart and kidney problems. On July 6th, 1971, Louis Armstrong died of a lung infection and heart complications. His last wish, that his trumpet be buried with him, was granted. Louis Armstrong influenced almost all aspects of jazz technique and style. He was the first to improvise and elaborate on a given melody. This technique has since been attempted and copied time and time again. Armstrong introduced a freedom to music that continues to impact popular music (Sadie 601). Without this American genius music would not be what it is today....
