Louis Armstrong is one of the many influential musicians who came out of the Harlem Renaissance. Armstrong was the first great jazz soloist, developing improvisational techniques that defined the sound of the jazz age and became the foundation for much of the era’s music.
Armstrong’s music has been featured everywhere, with his most famous song being “What a Wonderful World,” released in 1967. Another popular song of his was a cover of a French song titled “La Vie en Rose” released in 1950.
Armstrong was born on Aug. 4, 1901, in New Orleans. He was born into poverty, being raised by his mother and grandmother after being abandoned by his father. He left schooling in the fifth grade to work odd jobs to bring in what little money he could. One of the many he worked for was a Jewish family who supported his dream of playing music.
At just 11 years-old, Armstrong was arrested for firing his stepfather’s gun at a festival on New Year’s Eve. This was a turning point in Armstrong’s career. Following the incident, he was sent to the Colored Waif’s Home for Boys for detention, where he received formal musical training and began his journey as a cornet player.
After his release, Armstrong began playing at local concerts in New Orleans, mentored by Joe “King” Oliver, another notable cornetist. In 1919, he took a job playing with a riverboat band. Later in 1930, he hired Joe Glaser as his manager, solidifying his career path.
His first recorded solo performance occurred on April 5, 1923, playing cornet on “Chimes Blues” with Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band. In 1937, he became the first African American to be featured on a sponsored, national radio broadcast. He was featured on Fleischmann’s Yeast Show, growing his popularity even more.
In 1942, he married his fourth wife, Lucille Wilson; and in 1943, they bought a home in Corona, Queens, which he treated as a sanctuary for the rest of his life. In 1949, he was the first jazz musician to appear on the cover of Time magazine.
Later in life, he traveled the world as an “ambassador” of jazz. Battling heart and kidney problems in 1968, he continued to record, releasing “What a Wonderful World” that same year.
Despite being advised to stop playing, he returned to live performances in 1970. He played a final two-week engagement at the Waldorf-Astoria in 1971 before being hospitalized. This was Armstrong’s final concert.
Armstrong passed away in his sleep on July 6, 1971, at his home in Queens.
Throughout life, Armstrong remained dedicated to his music, averaging over 300 performances a year for three decades. He recorded over 1,000 songs, with more than 50 of them being his own compositions. This is why I chose Louis Armstrong for my profile; his dedication to jazz boosted the Harlem renaissance, giving the gift of jazz to the world.
