When Armstrong was a teen he shot his stepfathers gun into the air at a New Year Eve's party. He was arrested that same day and sent to a home for colored boys, this is where he fell in love with music. This is also where he was introduced to Joe Oliver, who was is main mentor and teacher, he would later take Oliver's spot in his band. So if you look back you can see that when he fired the gun into the air that was what caused this man to become a hero to many. If he hadn't done this who knows where he would be. So really he can thank his whole career/life to shooting that gun and being taken away from his grandmother.