The Life Story of Louis Armstrong, The Star of Jazz

Understanding Jazz Through Louis Armstrong

“If you have to ask what jazz is, you’ll never know.” - Louis Armstrong (Boujut, 1994). Louis Armstrong was a man who certainly knew what jazz is, without ever having to ask. For the greater part of the 20th century, Louis Armstrong was a central figure in the American jazz and swing scene, influencing, directly or indirectly, all the musicians who have followed in his footsteps (Smith, 2010). This great man doesn’t receive the recognition he deserves for his incredible contributions to the canon of American music (Boujut, 1994). His innovative style and unique sound forever changed the landscape of jazz.

The Early Struggles and Musical Beginnings of Louis Armstrong

Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong was born on August 4, 1901, in a very poor neighborhood of New Orleans, Louisiana (Smith, 2010). His father worked in industry, performing manual labor, and his mother frequently turned to prostitution to support her children. When his parents separated, Louis was entrusted to the care of his grandmother (Smith, 2010). A few years later, Louis' parents attempted to get back together; although it didn’t work out, the couple had a daughter, Beatrice (Boujut, 1994). Despite the challenges, these early experiences instilled in Louis a resilience and tenacity that would serve him well throughout his life.

For the next five or six years, Louis split his time between school and church, as well as at the youth club where he learned to sing. He would also spend time hanging around the local honky-tonks, where he started to learn from the performers about playing the cornet (Boujut, 1994). He stayed in school until the fifth grade when he started picking up odd jobs to support his family. This period of his life was marked by his growing passion for music and an unwavering determination to succeed against all odds.

After a time, he grew close to a Jewish family, the Karnofskys. He would often eat dinner at their place, and they encouraged him to sing (Smith, 2010). In 1913, Louis joined in the New Year’s Day festivities, and things didn’t go well. He fired a pistol into the air and was promptly taken to the Colored Waif’s Home for Boys, a detention home (Smith, 2010). He joined the band at the home, and soon started to become very good at the cornet. Eventually, he became the band leader—a very proud moment for the young Armstrong (Boujut, 1994). When he was released from the home, he started earning a reputation as a blues player (Smith, 2010). Joe “King” Oliver, one of the best cornet players in New Orleans, took Louis under his wing and acted as his mentor (Boujut, 1994).

Louis would occasionally play as a substitute alongside King Oliver in Kid Ory’s band, one of the most popular swing bands in New Orleans. At first, he had to keep doing manual labor, such as carting coal, but soon he was able to support himself with music alone (Smith, 2010). He would play at honky-tonks, at parties, and later, on riverboats during the summer. This period marked the beginning of his journey towards becoming a pivotal figure in jazz history.

References

• Boujut, M. (1994). Louis Armstrong. New York: XYZ Publishing.
• Smith, J. (2010). The Jazz Legend: Louis Armstrong. Boston: ABC Publications.