Louis Armstrong Research Paper

Louis Armstrong was born August 4th, 1901 in New Orleans. He was born into a poor family and was the grandson of slaves. His father abandoned the family when Louis was an infant. His mother later left Louis and his younger sister and left them with Louis’ grandmother. At age 5, he moved back in with his mother, her relatives and a parade of “stepfathers”. He went to school at Fisk School for Boys. At this school is where he most likely had exposure to music. He sold many items for money but the money he got wasn’t enough to keep his mother away from prostitution. He was usually in the dance halls near home, where he learned everything from licentious dancing to the quadrille. He hauled coal to Storyville for extra money. He would listen to the bands playing in the brothels and dance halls.

At age 11 he dropped out of school and joined a quartet of boys who sang in the street for money. Louis also worked for a Lithuanian-Jewish immigrant family, who had a junk-hauling business and often gave him odd jobs. They knew he lived without a father so they took him in and treated him as family.

Armstrong developed his cornet skills by playing in the band of the New Orleans Home for Colored Waifs, where he had been sent multiple time for delinquency, most notably for shooting his stepfather's pistol into the air at a New Year’s Eve celebration.

Peter Davis instilled discipline and provided musical training to Louis. Peter eventually made Louis the band leader. The home band played in New Orleans and young Louis started to get attention for his cornet playing, starting a musical career for him. When he turned 14 he was released from the home, living with his father and new stepmother. Then later back to his mother therefore back to the streets and their

temptations.
Armstrong got his very first dance hall job at Henry Ponce’s, where Black Benny became his protector and mentor. He hauled coal during the day and played the cornet at night. He played in the cities frequent brass band parades and he would listen to older musicians every chance he got. He would learn from Bunk Johnson, Buddy Petit, Kid Ory, and above all Joe “King” Oliver.
Louis Armstrong played the trumpet and was a composer,singer, and an occasional actor. He worked at many places such as Creole Jazz Band, The Fletcher Henderson Orchestra, Erskine Tate’s Little Symphony, Connie’s Inn, and the New Cotton Club. Throughout those times he played with so many people like Lil Harden Armstrong, Johnny Dodds, Johnny St. Cyr, Sidney Bechet, and Lil Hardin. Louis Armstrong was a trumpeter, bandleader, singer, soloist, film star and comedian. Considered one of the most influential artists in jazz history, he is known for songs like "Star Dust," "La Vie En Rose" and "What a Wonderful World." Louis Armstrong won the Grammy Hall of Fame, 2010,2008, and 2007. In 1972 he won the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. He won the Grammy Award for Best Vocal Performance in 1965. In 2013 he was awarded with the Independent Music Award for Best Album.