DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #179: Lindy Hop

I've featured a song before that has “Lindy Hop” in its title, but it's a while ago so I thought to bring up another one.

It's just called Lindy Hop and was recorded in 1937 by one of the most important female musicians in early jazz.

Much more than just Louis Armstrong's wife

As I wrote in the Song of the Week #36 back in 2010, Lilian ‘Lil' Beatrice Hardin Armstrong (February 3, 1898 – August 27, 1971) might be identified in the jazz world as the wife of Louis Armstrong but she was much more than that.

Here is what redhotjazz.com writes about her:

Lil Hardin-Armstrong was the most prominent woman in early jazz. She played piano, composed, and arranged for most of the important Hot Bands from New Orleans.

While working at a music store in Chicago, she was invited to play with Sugar Johnny's Creole Orchestra, from there she went to Freddie Keppard's Original Creole Orchestra, and then led her own band at the Dreamland Cafe at 3520 South State Street in Chicago.

In 1921 she joined King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band where she met Louis Armstrong. They were married in 1924.

She was a major contributor to Louis Armstrong's Hot Five and Hot Seven recordings. She played piano and sang occasionally, and composed several of the groups major songs.

Lil was the leader of several other recording groups, including Lil's Hot Shots and the New Orleans Wanderers. She and Louis were separated in 1931 and were divorced in 1938, although they remained friends for life.

She appeared in several Broadway shows. In the late 1930s Lil recast herself as a Swing vocalist and cut 26 vocal sides for Decca records.

In the 1940s she moved back to Chicago and played as a soloist in nightclubs. She continued to record sporadically up until 1963.

Lil kept active in the music business for the rest of her life, although far from the limelight.

Strangely enough, Lil died while taking part in a Louis Armstrong Memorial Concert in Chicago while playing “St. Louis Blues”, just two months after Louis had died.

Lindy Hop

This is a funny song, pretty fast and a nice challenge for Lindy Hoppers, though. Balboa dancers might be a little bit more comfortable with it ;).

Title: Lindy Hop
Artist: Lil Hardin Armstrong
Recorded: July 23, 1937
Tempo: 234 bpm
Dance: Lindy Hop, Balboa

You can find all the songs of the series also on my Spotify playlist.
Official hashtag of the series: #djcsotw

Do you like that Song? What do you think about Lil Hardin's music? Let us know in the comment section below.

Now Check Out

• DJ Chrisbe's Song of the Week #178: Flying Home
• DJ Chrisbe's Song of the Week #177: Krum Elbow Blues
• DJ Chrisbe's Song of the Week #176: One Hour