Louis Armstrong
Birthday:
4 August 1901, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
Birth Name:
Louis Daniel Armstrong
Height:
168 cm
Louis Armstrong grew up poor in a single-parent household. He was 13 when he celebrated the New Year by running out on the street and firing a pistol that belonged to the current man in his mother's life. At the Colored Waifs Home for Boys, he learned to play the bugle and the clarinet and joined the home's brass band. They played at soci...
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Louis Armstrong grew up poor in a single-parent household. He was 13 when he celebrated the New Year by running out on the street and firing a pistol that belonged to the current man in his mother's life. At the Colored Waifs Home for Boys, he learned to play the bugle and the clarinet and joined the home's brass band. They played at socials, picnics and funerals for a small fee. At 18 he got a job in the Kid Ory Band in New Orleans. Four years later, in 1922, he went to Chicago, where he played second coronet in the Creole Jazz Band. He made his first recordings with that band in 1923. In 1929 Armstrong appeared on Broadway in "Hot Chocolates", in which he introduced Fats Waller's "Ain't Misbehavin', his first popular song hit. He made a tour of Europe in 1932. During a command performance for King George V, he forgot he had been told that performers were not to refer to members of the royal family while playing for them. Just before picking up his trumpet for a really hot number, he announced: "This one's for you, Rex." Show less «
I never tried to prove nothing, just wanted to give a good show. My life has always been my music, it's always come first, but the music ain...Show more »
I never tried to prove nothing, just wanted to give a good show. My life has always been my music, it's always come first, but the music ain't worth nothing if you can't lay it on the public. The main thing is to live for that audience, 'cause what you're there for is to please the people. Show less «
All music is folk music. I ain't never heard no horse sing a song.
All music is folk music. I ain't never heard no horse sing a song.
What is jazz? Man, if you have to ask you'll never know.
What is jazz? Man, if you have to ask you'll never know.
There's some folks, that, if they don't know, you can't tell 'em.
There's some folks, that, if they don't know, you can't tell 'em.
If it wasn't for jazz, there wouldn't be no rock and roll.
If it wasn't for jazz, there wouldn't be no rock and roll.
[on being asked about his #1 song "Hello Dolly"] It sure feels good to be up there with [The Beatles].
[on being asked about his #1 song "Hello Dolly"] It sure feels good to be up there with [The Beatles].
A lotta cats copy the Mona Lisa, but people still line up to see the original.
A lotta cats copy the Mona Lisa, but people still line up to see the original.
Louis Armstrong's Photos
