Born in New Orleans he learned to play the cornet while confined in a waif’s home at the age thirteen for firing a revolver in the street.
After his released, he did a variety of odd jobs, before playing in the jazz bands of King Oliver and Fletcher Anderson.
In 1925-28 he made about sixty records as the leader of the small group, now known as the Hot Fives and the Hot Sevens.
These records made him the first great solo star in the history of popular music. During this period he switched from the cornet to the larger brighter sounding trumpet.
From 1931 to 1947 he led various big bands, then formed a small group again, called All Stars.
As well as complete mastery of his instruments, he had an instinctive understanding of harmony, a flamboyant lyricism, and unique sense of phrasing, all of which combined to make him one of the main influences in popular music.
As early as 1932 he toured Europe, eventually –laying in nearly every country in the world. He had a hit record as late as 1964 (Hello Dolly) and appeared in many films, notably The Birth of the Blues (1941), High Society (1956), and Satchmo the Great (1957).
Biography of Armstrong Louis (1900-71)
