Guide Note

Louis Armstrong is one of the most famous Jazz musicians of the 20th Century. Although getting his start as a trumpeter in various seminal Jazz bands, he also developed a career as a singer, an actor and a band leader.

Fast Facts

1. Genre: Jazz
2. Name: Louis Daniel Armstrong
3. Born: August 4, 1901
4. Died: July 6, 1971
5. Origin: New Orleans, Louisiana
6. Active: 1921-1971
7. Labels: Gennett Records, Okeh Records
8. Awards: Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1972, many recordings entered into the Grammy Hall of Fame from 1974-2008
9. Associated With: Joseph Oliver, Ella Fitzgerald, Bing Crosby, Duke Ellington
10. Nickname: Satchmo
11. Grandson of slaves
12. Grew up in poverty
13. Developed an interest in music at age 11

In 1922 Joseph Oliver, Armstrong's mentor, invited Armstrong to join his Creole Jazz Band in Chicago. In 1923 he made his first recordings with Gennett Records and Okeh Records and continued to play cornet in Oliver's band.

Armstrong and Oliver parted ways and Armstrong went to New York City to play in the Fletcher Henderson Orchestra in 1924. In 1925 he returned to Chicago, prompted by his wifes urging, to further his career. He began recording with his hot five and hot seven groups and did the songs "Hot Potato Head" , "Muggles" and "West End Blues" under the Okeh label.

Armstrong was the first to record scat sing when he released Heebie Jeebies in 1926. Upon returning to New York in 1929 he played in the pit orchestra for the popular musical Hot Chocolate where he made a cameo appearance singing his rendition of "Ain't Misbehavin" Armstrong's version of the song reached top sales.

Through the 1930s and 40s Armstrong continued to tour, playing with many large popular orchestras. He soon realized that his style worked better with smaller bands and formed Louis Armstrong and his All Stars.

During the 1950s his singing career really took off and in 1956 he recorded "Porgy and Bess" with Ella Fitzgerald which became one of the most popular duets of the 1950s.

Louis Armstrong spent the rest of his life doing what he loved, entertaining audiences throughout the world. To this day his legacy lives on in the world of jazz.

• 1954: Louis Armstrong Plays W.C. Handy
• 1956: Ella and Louis
• 1957: Porgy and Bess

• 1931: "When It's Sleepytime Down South"
• 1964: "Hello Dolly"
• 1967: "What a Wonderful World"