1901-1910: Louis Armstrong is born on August 4th in New Orleans, Louisiana, to Mary and William Armstrong. William Armstrong abandons the family during Louis’s infancy. Louis spends the first years of his life living with his grandmother.
1911-1920: Fires a pistol in the street to celebrate New Year’s Eve. A nearby policeman arrests Armstrong. While in the Waif’s Home, Louis receives musical instruction from the band director. Joe Oliver, one of the finest trumpet players in New Orleans, becomes Armstrong's teacher and mentor.
1921-1930: Makes his first recordings on April 5th. Moves to Chicago in August to play second cornet in the band of Joe Oliver, now nicknamed ”King“ Oliver.
1931-1940: Appears in his first film, Ex-Flame. Performs in Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, and Nebraska. Performs throughout the deep south, including Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, as well as his hometown, New Orleans. Performs in the musical Swingin’ the Dream, a jazz version of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer’s Night Dream.
1941-1950: Performs in Illinois, Florida, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, and Canada. Appears at the Nice Jazz Festival, the first international jazz festival. Appears on the cover of Time magazine. Returns to New Orleans to be King of the Zulus at Mardi Gras.
1951-1960: Tours Canada, Hawaii, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Scandinavia, Italy, and North Africa. Performs in Los Angeles, New Orleans, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Italy. Appears on The Ed Sullivan Show.
1961-1970: Makes a major tour of Africa. Tour of Eastern Europe. “What a Wonderful World” becomes a hit in Great Britain.
1971: Louis Armstrong passes away peacefully in his sleep at his home in Corona on July 6th.
1911-1920: Fires a pistol in the street to celebrate New Year’s Eve. A nearby policeman arrests Armstrong. While in the Waif’s Home, Louis receives musical instruction from the band director. Joe Oliver, one of the finest trumpet players in New Orleans, becomes Armstrong's teacher and mentor.
1921-1930: Makes his first recordings on April 5th. Moves to Chicago in August to play second cornet in the band of Joe Oliver, now nicknamed ”King“ Oliver.
1931-1940: Appears in his first film, Ex-Flame. Performs in Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, and Nebraska. Performs throughout the deep south, including Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, as well as his hometown, New Orleans. Performs in the musical Swingin’ the Dream, a jazz version of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer’s Night Dream.
1941-1950: Performs in Illinois, Florida, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, and Canada. Appears at the Nice Jazz Festival, the first international jazz festival. Appears on the cover of Time magazine. Returns to New Orleans to be King of the Zulus at Mardi Gras.
1951-1960: Tours Canada, Hawaii, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Scandinavia, Italy, and North Africa. Performs in Los Angeles, New Orleans, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Italy. Appears on The Ed Sullivan Show.
1961-1970: Makes a major tour of Africa. Tour of Eastern Europe. “What a Wonderful World” becomes a hit in Great Britain.
1971: Louis Armstrong passes away peacefully in his sleep at his home in Corona on July 6th.