Louis Armstrong (1901-1971) Bio and Chronology
As the world observed the rebuilding of New Orleans and the Gulf coast following Hurricane Katrina, Dr. Thomas Brothers' book, Louis Armstrong's New Orleans proved to be a timely publication. It traces the birth of jazz and the childhood footsteps of Louis Armstrong, who went from a little barefoot ragtag boy to the greatest musical ambassador of the United States. Louis' story began only one generation out of slavery, when he learned to navigate the road barriers of a socially divided city. Brothers illustrates the challenges Louis Armstrong handled in his youth before embarking on a phenomenal career in which he performed on average 300 concerts per year. From Brothers we discover the unlikelihood of it all, or, rather, the miracle of it, beginning with Armstrong's roots in New Orleans.
In 1900, the population of New Orleans was about 287,000 residents; by 1920 there were 387,000. The uptown and downtown neighborhoods were separated by Canal Street. In an old photo, Canal Street did not appear to be some looming border of a huge metropolis. It seemed more like a street of a small port community in which people from many backgrounds learned to live together.
In the musical scene, Brothers describes the urbanization of music, specifically how plantation spirituals evolved into street blues, and how flat 4/4 time derived from church choruses evolved into the jazz rhythms promoted by Bolden, Oliver and Armstrong. Cutting contests effected solo innovations and improvisations. Ragtime, honky tonks, dance halls, advertising wagons, parades, bands and vaudeville all influenced the invention of New Orleans jazz, with its own recognizable sound. Armstrong was guided and taught by Joe Oliver, and he joined King Oliver's band in Chicago after performing in bands on Mississippi river boats. This was the beginning of Armstrong's career.
In his writings, Armstrong reminisced about Oliver: "Ever since the first time I met Joe Oliver, he always play the part of something real precious in my life. He always seemed just a little different from anyone I had met. And as a kid, I couldn't help but notice the difference in the kindness in Mr. Joe...All the rest of the musicians around N.O. (including Bunk Johnson) at the time when I was a kid were full of you know what and they never had time. They just couldn't be bothered, that's all..."
Louis Armstrong's life and art demonstrated the power of hope and resilience and how success can be attained with persistence and faith in spite of insurmountable setbacks and trouble. Armstrong recognized the horn's potential as a powerful voice. He influenced countless musicians and his recordings attest to his musical ingenuity and prodigious talent that has not been equaled since.
Suggested listening: Louis Armstrong and King Oliver 1923-24; Hot Fives and Sevens 1925-28; California Concerts - All Stars 1951, 1955; Ella and Louis (Verve) 1956.
1901 Born New Orleans
1913-14 Studied cornet at Waif's home, reform school
1918 Joined Kid Ory Band
1919-21 Mississippi River boats; Fate Marable Band;
Learned to read notation from Erskine Tate.
1922 Joined King Oliver's band, Chicago
1924 Married Lil Hardin, pianist and collaborator
1926 First top ten hit Muskrat Ramble
1932 Foreign tour
1935 Formed big band with Joe Glaser, manager
1939 Switched to small band format
1942 Married Lucille Wilson
1947 All Stars debut, Los Angeles; embarked on world tours
1971 Died, Corona, New York
Photo: The birth of jazz and blues. New Orleans and Louis.