Biography
Louis Armstrong, born and raised in New Orleans, was a renowned trumpeter, composer, singer, and actor who became one of the most influential figures in the history of jazz. Throughout his lengthy career, Armstrong was known by various nicknames such as “Satchmo”, “Pops”, and simply “Louie”.
Armstrong began his career in 1918, playing the cornet in brass bands and riverboats along the Mississippi River. It was during this time that he caught the attention of his future mentor, King Oliver, and eventually joined his band in Chicago. There, he networked with other popular jazz musicians like Hoagy Carmichael and his first wife Lil Hardin Armstrong.
In 1924, Armstrong made the move to New York City to play for the Fletcher Henderson Orchestra. It was during this time that he switched from the cornet to the trumpet and developed his signature emotional playing style, which included singing and storytelling about his life in New Orleans.
The following year, Armstrong formed his own band, playing for notorious gangsters like Al Capone and Dutch Schultz. He also began to emerge as a vocalist, pioneering the art of “scat singing”.
Armstrong is perhaps best known for his covers of songs that have become jazz standards, such as “La Vie En Rose” and “What a Wonderful World”. Throughout his career, Armstrong had nineteen records that hit the Top Ten on the Billboard charts. He was recognized globally for his gravelly voice, and by the 1960s, he was considered a beloved American icon and cultural ambassador for jazz.
Additionally, Armstrong was one of the first black public figures to be widely accepted into white society, both on and off the stage. He collaborated with some of the biggest names in jazz, including Duke Ellington, Bing Crosby, and Ella Fitzgerald.
In addition to his musical accomplishments, Armstrong starred in over a dozen Hollywood films and hosted his own nationally broadcast radio show. Louis Armstrong's legacy as a pioneering jazz musician and cultural icon continues to be celebrated and remembered to this day.
