Louis Armstrong Accomplishments

Have you ever heard the sweet sound of a trumpet play? The sounds of someone singing who puts you in a trance as you listen to every word? Have you ever heard Louis Armstrong play and sing his marvelous music? Do you truly know the man many have come to love and enjoy hearing? Louis Armstrong was an inspiration to many and an amazing musician who people should be more aware of.

Louis Armstrong was born into a long generation of slaves and farm workers on August 4, 1901 in the state of Louisiana; although some sources say he was born in the year of 1900. Willie Armstrong (his father) left Mary Ann Albert (his mother) before he was born and when he was born his mother left him to the care of his grandmother Lucy Armstrong. He had a sister

Mary Ann, wanting her son to attend school and keep him fed and healthy had to turn to prostitution in order to make money to support her family. Louis Attended “Fisk School for Boys” in 1906 but then eventually dropped out in 1912 to begin working on the streets to make money. He joined a band called the “quartet boys” and sang on the street corners for pennies. He worked on the junk wagon, cleaning graves for tips, selling coal, and he would even play and sing at funerals or small clubs for pay when he had such an opportunity to do so ("Louis Armstrong"). One New Year’s Eve he decided to shoot a gun in the air and was sentenced to a year in a colored waif’s school in 1914. While he was in the boy’s home he received his first official music lessons and from that point on he was fascinated with preforming and playing instruments and singing ("Louis Armstrong"). He returned

Even though he was older he still maintained his tour throughout the United States through the 1930’s and 1940’s (“Louis Armstrong” PBS). No one knew Louis could sing until the late 50’s, this time period was the beginning singing career with his lyrics such as “Blueberry Hill” and “Hello Dolly.” He also recorded a classic which most people know called “A Kiss to Build a Dream On” ("Louis Armstrong Biography"). Although his singing career seemed to take off this did not take away from playing with small groups and even recording with