Jackson Creek Middle School

Louis Armstrong's Life

by Sam E.

Louis Armstrong birth date is up to debate. He died in 1971.

Louis was born in New Orleans (where jazz was invented) and was poor. He grew up listening to jazz on the streets, friends, radio, even outside club doors. Well, it's easy to say he fell in love with the music.

At age ten he new he loved music and wanted to make it but was too poor to buy an instrument. So he used the next best thing his voice. He joined a quartet that performed 2 to 3 times a week for a about 2 years getting pennies as they sang on a street corner. This was Louis's first type of musical learning. He could harmonize listen to the others carry a tune and on top of all that he helped support his mom and sister.

At age twelve he was having fun on New Year's Eve and he had a gun with him. His friends dared him to shoot it into the air. Easy to say bad idea. He was sent off to Waifs reform school. He would be their until he turned fourteen. The reform school was a lot like military school. It was up at dawn, boil your cloths clean, eat bad food, do chores, and go to bed. Also while he was at school he got a good education and learned to play the coronet or better known as a trumpet.

When Louis was released from Waifs reform school, he started to work. He did small jobs like selling papers, unloading boats and selling coal from a cart.

Not surprisingly he did not own an instrument at this time in his life. Also again not surprisingly, Louis kept listing to bands in halls like the Funky Butt Hall. He listened to many types of music there like jazz, swing and Dixieland.

In the bands that played there and all the players that played Joe Oliver or "King" was his favorite. He also acted as father figure to Louis giving Louis his first cornet and instructing him on how to play.

Later on in his life around 1917 he played in a "King" inspired band in dive bars in New Orleans' Storyvillie part of town. And 2 years later Louis left new Orleans for the first time in his life. He left to go join the Fate Marable's band in St. Louis. Marble led the band on the Strekfus Mississippi river lines. Louis also played regular gigs in Kid Orys band whenever boats left form New Orleans.

When he returned to his New Orleans Louis played in Zutty Singletons. Also he would play in parades with the Allan Brass Band. Also on the bandstand he played with Papa Celestin's Tuxedo Orchestra, and the Silver Leaf Band.

In 1919 Joe Oliver left for a job Chicago, Louis had the honor of taking his place in Kid Ory's band from time to time. Three years later Louis received a telegram from Joe Oliver saying that he wanted Louis to join his Creole Jazz band at Lincoln Gardens Chicago. Of course Louis said yes, it was his dream come true being able to play in a professional jazz band.

Soon the band hit success with the help of his amazing playing and Joes it was only a matter of time. The New Orleans jazz sound everyone loved it swept the town by storm. This craze caused other bands from the south come up north to play.

While still playing with Joe he met Lillian Hardin. She was the bands piano player and arranger. She thought Louis was wonderful and they married in February of 1924. She thought Louis was to good for the and convinced him to leave by the end of 1924, but it was a reluctant leave.

After the break away from Joe Louis worked shortly with Ollie Powers' Harmony Syncopators. Then Louis moved to New York to play in the Fletcher Henderson's Orchestra for 13 months. Also while playing in the orchestra he made dozens of recording sessions with many Blues singers, like Bessie Smiths song recording of "St. Louis Blues." Also he recorded with Clarence Williams and the Red Onion Jazz.

Louis deiced to move back to Chicago and play in his wife's band. Also he played in the Erskine Tate's Vendome Orchestra then with Carroll Dickenson's Orchestra in the Sunset Cafe.

That same year the hot five made their very first recording. This would be the first time Louis had made records under his own name. Louis also had a hot seven. These groups were Jazz groups formed by Louis, they are also considerate be the most absolute jazz classics which speak of Armstrong's creativity.

The band never played live, or in person for a long while, but finally did in 1928. Coincidentally While Louis was working at the Sunset Cafe he met his future manager Joe Glaser. At that point in time Glaser managed the Cafe. Also around that time he was conducting a band called Louis Armstrong and his Stompers.

In 1929 Louis stopped playing with the Carroll Dickenson's Orchestra. By now Louis had made a name for himself. He toured with other shows like "Hot Chocolates" and also appeared with the Luis Russell Orchestra occasionally, with Dave Peyton and with Fletcher Henderson.

In 1930 Louis moved to Los Angeles. There he started a band called Louis Armstrong and his Sebastian New Cotton Club Orchestra. Then in 1931 Louis decided to go back to Chicago to produce his own touring band. Now by the June of that same year Louis finally returns to New Orleans for the first time since 1922. Back in New Orleans Louis was greeted as a hero, but racism ended his welcome when a white radio announcer refused to play Louis. Also a free live concert for African Americans was canceled at the last minute. Also sadly Louis and Lillian separated in that same year.

One year later Louis revisited California just before leaving for England where he found great success and fame. For three years more Louis was almost always on the road playing concerts. It was a crazy crisscrossing trip through the US dozens of time, and to Europe playing in places such as England and Denmark.

When Louis returned to the US in 1935 he hired Joe Glaser. He had know Glaser since the 1920's when he managed the Sunset Cafe.

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Updated: April 21, 2003