Louis Armstrong was the most successful and talented jazz musician in history. His influence and expansive career continues to make waves in the jazz world. That is what made him become what he is to many today - a legend.

Born on August 4, 1901, in the poorest section of New Orleans, Armstrong grew up with his grandparents due to his parents' separation. On January 1, 1913 he made a mistake which turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to him. At a New Year's celebration in downtown New Orleans, Louis Armstrong, also known as "Satchmo" and "Satch", fired a pistol into the air and was placed in the Colored Waifs' Home. It was there that he was introduced to Peter Davis - the brass band leader who taught him how to play the cornet (Brown 17). Soon after he began playing, Armstrong was made leader of the band - something he was extremely proud of.

In June of 1914, Armstrong was free to leave the Waifs' Home. He was hired by various cabarets throughout the city, as well as for picnics, dances, and funerals. It was at one of these places that he was spotted by the famous Joe 'King' Oliver. King Oliver found Armstrong stand-in slots at orchestras and other venues. In 1918, he was

Louis Armstrong was hired in May of 1919 to play on a riverboat that traveled the Mississippi River from New Orleans to St. Louis. Armstrong soon became very popular in St. Louis and was in high demand (Collier 124). Two and a half years later, he was thrown off the riverboat and fired due to a fight. After returning to New Orleans, he received a telegram from King Oliver in Chicago. It was an invitation to join The Creole Jazz Band - an offer Armstrong couldn't refuse. The Jazz Band cut it's first record in the spring of 1923 and toured throughout Illinois, Ohio, and Indiana (Hadlock 64).

In 1935 Armstrong formed a commercial style big band with fifteen other musicians (Brown 76). For the next twelve years he starred in various films and played with his new band. It was in 1947 that he abandoned the big band and returned to small band format. He joined the All-Star's, made up of Jack Teagarden, George Wettling, Big Sid Catlett, Dick Cary, Peanuts Hucko, Bob Hagart. That turned out to be the group he worked with until his death.

Hello Dolly, Armstrong's most well known song was recorded in 1964. It hit number one on the Billboard charts on April 8th. It was accompanied by one of movies he starred in which shared the same title. For the next seven years of his life he was in and out of the hospital due to heart and kidney problems. On July 6th, 1971, Louis Armstrong died of a lung infection and heart complications. His last wish, that his trumpet be buried with him, was granted.

Something interesting happened to Armstrong in 1933. In London's Daily Express the death of the "trumpet player with lips of steel," was reported (Boujut 36). Five days later Melody Maker issued a correction but the news had already spread around the globe.

Crouch, Stanley. "Louis Armstrong." Time 8 Aug. 1998: 170.

Brown, Sandford. Louis Armstrong. New York: Watts, 1993.

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Approximate Word count = 1312
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)