"Life is like a jazz trumpet, if you don't put anything into it, nothing will come out of it." - Louis Armstrong
He was born in 1901 in New Orleans. He started playing as a child in a reformatory. From 1918 he worked in the ensemble Kid Ory's Brown Skinned Babies.
He later played in the Tuxedo Brass Band and at the same time on the steamer in the Fata Marablea orchestra (permanent engagement in the years 1919 - 1921). Paul Dominguez and Shelby Singleton's trio followed. From 1922 he worked in Chicago, in the King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band. With it, he also recorded with for the first time in 1923 (Dippermouth Blues, Chimes Blues, Snag Rag, etc.).
From 1924 he worked in N.Y.C., where he was first engaged in the Fletcher Henderson Orchestra (until 1925). Many well-known recordings come from this time, such as Alabama Bound, Copenhagen, etc. While playing with Henderson, Armstrong also begins to sing. During this period he accompanied several blues singers (e.g. Bessie Smith). In 1926 he returned to Chicago. There he performs alternately in the orchestra of his wife, pianist Lilian Hardin, and in the theater orchestras of Erskine Tate and Clarence Jones. At the same time, he was engaged as a soloist in the Carroll Dickerson Orchestra.
Armstrong's studio work with his own groups was also significant at this time. Since 1925, he has been recording the first films for the Okeh brand under the heading L.A. And His Hot Five (e.g. famous songs Big Butter And Egg Man, Come Back Sweet Papa, V.S.O.P., Hotter Than That, Savoy Blues, etc.). His subsequent ensemble Hot Seven is similarly important (Alligator Crawl, Potato Head Blues ...).
From 1928 to 1929, he led the changing Savoy Ballroom Five formation. From 1929 to 1947 he worked with his own large orchestras, whose bosses were Carroll Dickerson, Zilmer Randolph, and Luis Carl Russell. Armstrong has been a respected jazz star since the 1920s and often gave in to the commercial pressures of popular music at the time. In 1932 he performed for the first time in Europe.
Armstrong often appeared in movies. He first appeared in the drama Ex-flame (1930) and the comedy Pennies From Heaven (1936). He later starred in the films Artist And Models, Dr. Rhythm, Everyday Day's A Holiday, and Going Places (all 1938). Many others followed, such as Cabin In The Sky (1943), Jam Session (1944), A Song Is Born (1948), The Strip (1951), High Society (1956), Hello Dolly! (1969). In 1939, he also starred in the musical Swingin' The Dream (on Broadway).
A number of film and television documentaries have also been dedicated to Armstrong. From 1947 (until 1970) he performed with the small group All Stars. He records simultaneously with various commercial ensembles (Russell Garcia Orchestra, Gordon Jenkins, Sy Oliver).
He also recorded many duets with Ella Fitzgerald. During his 50 years of performing, Armstrong maintained the exceptional favor of the audience and experts. He was technically perfect. He died in July 1971.