Louis Armstrong was born August 4, 1901, in New Orleans, Louisiana, the jazz capitol of the United States. Armstrong had a tough childhood. His father spent all of his days working and abandoned his family soon after Louis was born. His mother often turned to prostitution, leaving him with his grandmother. Armstrong left school in the fifth grade to begin working. A Jewish family gave Louis a job collecting junk. They also encouraged him to sing and would invite him to sing at family parties and meals.
On a New Years Eve party Armstrong fired a gun into the air and was arrested on the spot. He was sent to the Colored Waif’s (someone who has no family and no home) home. At this home he received musical instruction on the cornet and fell in love with music. In 1914, he was released him, and he sought out his career in music. He still had to do part time jobs selling newspapers. Armstrong slowly began earning a reputation as a jazz player.
Armstrong had married young, in 1918, he married Daisy Parker. Also around this time he adopted a three-year-old boy named clearance. Clearance’s mother was Armstrong’s cousin who had died in childbirth. Clarence had suffered a head injury at a young age and was taken care of be Armstrong his entire life.
On a New Years Eve party Armstrong fired a gun into the air and was arrested on the spot. He was sent to the Colored Waif’s (someone who has no family and no home) home. At this home he received musical instruction on the cornet and fell in love with music. In 1914, he was released him, and he sought out his career in music. He still had to do part time jobs selling newspapers. Armstrong slowly began earning a reputation as a jazz player.
Armstrong had married young, in 1918, he married Daisy Parker. Also around this time he adopted a three-year-old boy named clearance. Clearance’s mother was Armstrong’s cousin who had died in childbirth. Clarence had suffered a head injury at a young age and was taken care of be Armstrong his entire life.