Louis Armstrong was an American trumpeter, composer, vocalist, and actor who was one of the most influential jazz artists in history. His career spanned five decades from the 1920s to the 1960s. He is known for such hits as “What a Wonderful World,” “Dream a Little Dream of Me” and “We Have All the Time in the World.”1)
He only had a fifth-grade education, and he didn't receive any formal musical training until the age of 11 when he was arrested and spent time in juvenile detention for firing a gun in the street. 2)
Satchmo and Pops were artistic pseudonyms of Louis Armstrong. 3)
Asked about his religion, Armstrong replied that he was brought up according to the canons of Baptism, wears a Star of David around his neck, and is a friend of the Pope. 4)
He loved to write down his thoughts; he made notes of his travels, as well as responses to fan letters sent to him, and he even wrote bawdy limericks. 5)
Louis Armstrong was born on August 4, 1901, in the city of New Orleans, Louisiana (United States). 6)
Louis Armstrong died in 1971 before his birthday. He lived for 69 years. 7)
Louis Armstrong was born under the sign of Leo. 8)
He sang in a baritone and had a very distinctive raspy voice. 9)
Among the many contributions of this great artist is the introduction of a kind of vocal expression to jazz - scat singing (a form of imitating or replacing instruments with vocal abilities). 10)
He was a highly acclaimed musician, performing with many celebrities of the time, most often with the First Lady of Song, namely Ella Fitzgerald. 11)
Louis Armstrong spent his youth in poverty in a tough neighborhood. At the age of six, he attended the Fisk School for Boys, a school accepting black children in the racially segregated system of New Orleans. He did casual work for someone named Karnofsky, a family of Lithuanian Jews. 12)
Louis Armstrong wore a pendant with a Star of David for the rest of his life and wrote about what he learned from the Karnofsky family: “how to live - real life and determination.” 13)
Armstrong developed his cornet skills by playing in a band. Peter Davis, who often appeared at the house, became Armstrong's first teacher and chose him to lead the band. Thanks to this band, the 13-year-old Armstrong attracted the attention of Kid Ora. 14)
Armstrong found work in a dance hall owned by Henry Ponce, who had ties to organized crime. He met the six-foot-tall drummer Black Benny, who became his guide and bodyguard. 15)
Louis Armstrong loved to write down his thoughts - he made travel notes, also responses to fan letters sent to him, and even made bawdy limericks. 16)
Louis Armstrong was an audiophile; he had a huge record collection and always had the latest record-playing equipment for this purpose. 17)