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Louis is Born
Louis was born on August 4, 1901, in New Orleans. His Mother Mary Albert and his father William Armstrong. -
Sent to the Colored Waifs Home
At the age of 9, Louis was sent to the Colored Waifs Home, a Juvenile Detention Facility for boys. He learned to play the cornet in the home’s band and playing music became his passion. -
The Start of Louis' Music Career
Louis began playing in Mississippi Riverboat Dance Bands. He had also spent his summers playing on riverboats with a band led by Fate Marable. On the riverboat, he honed his music reading skills and eventually had his first encounters with other jazz legends, including Bix Beiderbecke and Jack Teagarden. -
Oliver All-Stars
Oliver, the leader of the band Oliver All-Stars sought out Armstrong to play second cornet. The young Armstrong became popular through his ingenious ensemble lead and second cornet lines, his cornet duet passages (called “breaks”) with Oliver was his most popular piece. -
Marriage
Louis married a fellow musician by the name of Lil Hardin in 1924. Lil and Louis met in Chicago in 1923. ... Lil and Louis were bandmates in King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band. They divorced in 1938. -
New Band
Armstrong left Oliver's band to seek further fame. He joined Fletcher Henderson's Band for a year. He eventually returned to Chicago playing in large orchestra bands. -
The Armstrong Hot 5 and 7
The Hot 5 was Louis' first jazz recording band under his own name. In these solos, he laid down the basic vocabulary of jazz improvisation and became its founding and most influential exponent. he emerged as the first great jazz soloist. -
Louie Becomes Famous in the Jazz World
Armstrong was a famous musician by 1929 when he moved from Chicago to New York City and performed in the theatre review "Hot Chocolates." He toured Europe and America as a trumpet soloist. for several years beginning in 1935, Luis Russell’s big band served as the Louis Armstrong band. He abandoned the often blues-based material of his earlier years and decided to play popular songs by famous composers, Hoagy Carmichael, Irving Berlin, and Duke Ellington. -
Joe Glaser
From 1935 to the end of his life, Armstrong’s career was managed by Joe Glaser, who hired Armstrong’s bands and guided his film career (Louis was in "Pennies from Heaven"). He also managed his radio appearances. Louis kept playing and making a name for himself. All different types of instruments based their solos on Louis' distinct style. From Trombonists and Clarinets, they were all inspired by Louis' creativeness. -
Another Marriage
After finalizing his divorce with Lil Hardin, he marries Lucille Wilson who he will stay with for the rest of his life. -
Rest of Louis' Life
Armstrong was featured as a good-humored entertainer in most of his films. He played a dramatic part in the movie "New Orleans" (1947). He also played in a Dixieland Band. This led to the formation of the Louie Armstong All-Stars. The band consisted of Jazz greats such as Hines and Trombonist Jack Teagarden. For most of the rest of Armstrong’s life, he toured the world with changing All-Stars sextets. In Louis' later years he was known for his nonstop touring schedule. -
Legacy
Louis was more than a trumpeter, he was a bandleader, singer, soloist, film star, and comedian. He started with nothing but stayed persistent with his goals. Armstrong influenced the entirety of Jazz through his love for music and creativity. If Louis never played trumpet, Jazz would not be the way it is today. He died July 6, 1971.