Research Guides: Louis Armstrong: Biography

Louis Armstrong (August 4, 1901 - July 6, 1971)

Daniel Louis Armstrong—trumpeter and singer—was one of the most important musicians in jazz and in twentieth-century music, beating seemingly insurmountable odds given his humble origins. He proved himself as the first vital jazz soloist and one of jazz's most creative innovators, winning worldwide appeal and achieving commercial success. Armstrong helped to transform the traditional collaborative improvisational New Orleans style into a sophisticated form of jazz featuring a star solo. Clearly a versatile musician, Armstrong was an active participant in a number of jazz cultures, including New Orleans. Continue . . .

Source: Collins, Willie. "Armstrong, Louis (1901–1971)." St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture, edited by Thomas Riggs, 2nd ed., vol. 1, St. James Press, 2013, pp. 133-135. From Gale Virtual Reference database.

eBook Collection

Louis Armstrong : The Soundtrack of the American Experience

Music Is My Life : Louis Armstrong, Autobiography, and American Jazz

Louis Armstrong's Hot Five and Hot Seven Recordings

Resources

Louis Armstrong House Museum The Louis Armstrong House Museum is a National Historic Landmark and a New York City landmark. The Museum is a member of the American Alliance of Museums, the Association of African American Museums, the Museums Council of New York City, the New York State Museums Association, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and NYC & Company. The Museum is a constituent of the Kupferberg Center for the Arts at Queens College.
To Really Appreciate Louis Armstrong’s Trumpet, You Gotta Play it. Just Ask Wynton Marsalis Article from wyntonmarsalis.org
The People of Traditional New Orleans Jazz: Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong If music is the essence of the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park, then people are the heart of our story.

From Films On Demand database:

Gumbo: Ken Burns’ Jazz, Part 1 - Louis Armstrong On January 1, 1913, New Orleans police arrest an 11 year old boy who will become a jazz great. Distributed by PBS Distribution.
The Gift: Ken Burns’ Jazz, Part 2 - Louis Armstrong - Early Years Louis Armstrong, raised in poverty, was treated kindly for Russian Jews. They gave him work and fed him. Young Louis purchased his first musical instrument--a cornet. Armstrong and those who knew him understood that he had a special gift. Distributed by PBS Distribution.
Our Language: Ken Burns’ Jazz, Part 3 - Louis Armstrong: Scatting Armstrong joins his wife Lil's group at the Dreamland Cafe. At the Vendome, Armstrong introduces a new, novelty number called "Heebie Jeebies," which he sang with vocal improvisations. Distributed by PBS Distribution.
The True Welcome: Ken Burns’ Jazz, Part 4 - Tremendous Pride - Louis Armstrong In 1935, Louis Armstrong toured Europe, avoiding a return to New York. He was a sensation wherever he went. His music "transcended time and space." Distributed by PBS Distribution.