Louis Armstrong
(1901-1971)
“Satchmo”
Daniel Louis Armstrong was
born in a run-down cabin in
New Orleans, Louisiana,
slum. His mother was just
fifteen years old and was the
granddaughter of slaves.
Soon after he was born, his
father left the family. Louis’s
family was very poor. Most
days they did not have
enough food to live or good
clothes to wear.
Louis spent most of his time
wander the streets singing
for food and the few pennies
people would give him.
When he was about thirteen, he got in trouble with the law and was
sent to the Colored Wifs Home for Boys, a juvenile detention
center. His life was better than at home enough food to eat and
suitable clothing. Louis sang in the home’s choir but asked to join
the brass band and was given a battered cornet, a trumpet-like
instrument. He was taught to play and Louis decide to become a
musician.
Louis was a shy, easy-going
person. He worked best
when pushed by strong
people. After leaving the
boy’s home he met Joe “King”
Oliver, a famous cornet
player. Oliver taught Louis
more about playing the
trumpet and jazz music. Louis
had a great talent and
learned quickly and was soon
playing in bands around New
Orleans and on river boats
traveling up and down the
Mississippi River.
Armstrong moved to Chicago where he made a few records and
was soon known to many musicians around the country. Then in
1924 he moved to New York and joined the Fletcher Henderson
Orchestra, one of the best bands in the business. Fletcher
Henderson was ahead of his tie and hired both black and white
musicians. Louis was able to meet and learn from many other
musicians while in New York.
Louis returned to Chicago and
started his own band, “Hot
Five”. On one of the records
“Heebie Jeebies” Louis sang scat
style, which is a style of singing
using nonsense words. This
demonstrated his unique voice
and after singing “Ain’t
Misbehavin’” in a New York
musical his career turned to
singing and playing popular
songs rather than blues music.
As a young man, Armstrong was
nicknamed Satchelmouth, a
person with a wide mouth or a
person who talks a lot. While on
an overseas tour in 1932, an
English writer confused the name
and called him Satchmo. The new
nickname stuck with his fans.
In 1936, he made the movie Pennies
from Heaven with Bing Crosby.
He was the first African American
to have a major role in a movie.
He had become famous as an
entertainer not just a trumpet
player.
In the 1940s, Louis won the first Esquire magazine poll, then
considered to be the most important jazz ward of all.
After the big band era ended he played with “The All-Stars”.
It was the first jazz group to play in the Metropolitan Opera Hall
in New York.
By 1950, Satchmo wa probably the
best-known entertainer in the
world. His face and gravelly
voice were known to millions.
He made many movies in the US
and in Europe. He was also
featured on radio and television.
He toured Europe and Asia as a
“roving ambassador” for the
U.S. State Department and
made appearances with the
great musicians of his time. In
1964 he recorded “Hello Dolly”.
The song replaced the Beatles at
the top of the recording charts.
Louis Armstrong with Barbra Streisand
in the movie “Hello Dolly”
The tours and long hours
Armstrong worked tired him.
His health began to fail. He
performed less and less but he
wouldn’t quit performing. In
July 1971 he had a heart attack
and died.
When Bing Crosby learned that
Satchmo had died, he said, “He
was the only musician who ever
lived who can’t be replaced by
someone.”
Louis Armstrong Statue in Armstrong
Park , New Orleans