On July 4, 1971, Louis Armstrong died aged 69. He was musician  (trumpet) and singer, brought various inventions in jazz music, including shifting the focus from collective improvisation to solo performance, bringing improvisation to singing (scat singing) and “reviving” the stage performance with charismatic and expressive stage presence. Armstrong became one of the first African-American artists that were popular among wide “white” audience. His influence extended far beyond jazz music and he is regarded as one of the most influential  artists in the history of the 20^th Century popular music.