♫"Satchmo" Records Jeepers Creepers♫

When conversation focuses on crossover artists, the definition varies in wording but primarily means the same. The crossover could be a song or album from one style of music finding popularity in another genre of music sales. The music of a distinct genre might become broadly popular, thereby deliberately mixing genres. Or, an artist has a hit in a genre other than that which he or she achieved initial success. This day's crossover artist maintains influence extending well beyond his profound jazz music, and by the end of his career in the '60s, he was widely regarded as a profound influence on popular music in general.

Today in Music History: January 18, 1939

Welcome into the Spotlight...

"Satchmo": Remembering the Man & his Music
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Louis Armstrong: trumpeter, bandleader, singer, soloist, film star and comedian considered one of the most influential artists in jazz history

Louis Armstrong, nicknamed "Satchmo," "Pops" and, later, "Ambassador Satch," is remembered as a "lovable, clowning personality, and a gravel-voiced singer who played simple but dramatic trumpet in a New Orleans-styled Dixieland setting." [Louis Armstrong - "Wild Man Blues"]

Louis Armstrong was one of the first truly popular African-American entertainers to "cross over", whose skin color was secondary to his music in an America that was severely racially divided. He rarely publicly politicized his race, often to the dismay of fellow African-Americans, but took a well-publicized stand for desegregation during the Little Rock Crisis. His artistry and personality allowed him socially acceptable access to the upper echelons of American society that were highly restricted for men of color. [Source: en.wikipedia.org]

On this day in music history...

Louis Armstrong and his orchestra recorded "Jeepers Creepers" on January 18, 1939 in New York, NY. Some declare this to be the best masterpiece ever recorded in music history.

The date on the video indicates 1938. There was a radio performance of "Jeepers Creepers" on December 14, 1938, New York, NY.

Anyone loving old movies knows 'Jeepers Creepers' was the name of the horse in the '38 film Going Places. Louis Armstrong introduced the Academy Award nominated song.

Going Places (film)
September, 1938, Los Angeles, CA

Jeepers Creepers

Armstrong's largest role was as a racehorse trainer named Gabriel who tends a horse named Jeepers Creepers that can only be calmed down and ridden when Gabriel sings the song of the same name. The film's conclusion features Armstrong and his band driving in a buggy down the racetrack as Jeepers Creepers competes for a title. Armstrong does the best he can do with the role of a shabby, childlike servant who is referred to as "Uncle Tom".

Click HERE to see all the songs that were at number one on this day from 1940 - 2016.

Below are just a few...

1986 'That's What Friends Are For' by Dionne Warwick had a four-week run at No.1 on the US singles chart, all company and artists profits were given to aids charities. (January 12 – February 8 1986)

1996 Mariah Carey and Boyz 2 Men team up for One Sweet Song that stayed on the US Billboard charts at No.1 for 16 weeks (longer than any other song). The song is about death and wanting to be with a loved one after they passed. The lyric "I'll be with you that sweet day" means "when I die I will be with you then."

 2007 Irreplaceable by Beyoncé held the No.1 spot for 10 weeks. In this acoustic guitar driven burner, Beyoncé sings from the standpoint of a woman who is addressing her lover, who has been cheating on her. She's telling him not to think for a minute he is irreplaceable but that he can be easily replaced.

2000 Christina Aguilera's No. 1 hit "What a Girl Wants" remained in the top spot for two weeks. The song finds Aguilera singing the praises of a guy who knows how to treat a lady and stand by her.

 2016 "Sorry" by Justin Bieber holds the No.1 spot on this day. After a run of boorish behavior that included reckless driving, public urination and even an incident involving a black market monkey, Justin Beiber showed some contrition in 2015, apologizing for some of his misdeeds and subjecting himself to a Comedy Central roast. He sees this song as the coda. "It's kind of the stamp, the end-all of apologies that I'm giving to people, to the media," he told told the Australian radio station Nova 93.7. "There needs to come a time when they just say, 'We get it,' and putting out a song saying 'I'm sorry' kind of puts the icing on the cake. I'm ready to just move on." [Source: songfacts.com]

And the music goes on beating to the rhythm of the changing times...