Louis Armstrong

Louis Armstrong

  Heroes are needed in the world to give people something to look up to,

someone to be like. Louis Armstrong over came such adversities as poverty, a

lack of good education, and racism to become one of the greatest jazz player

not just of the 1920s but of the 20th century.   Armstrong was one of the

creators of Jazz and was one of the most popular entertainers from the 1920s.

Starting out at a young age he never knew that one day he would be such a

popular jazz player and also not knowing that one day he might even be

called a hero.

  Armstrong was born on July 4, 1900 in the Storyville section of New

Orleans. At the age of 12 his life changed. When he was parting for New

Years Eve,   he shot a gun into the air. He was soon arrested and taken to a

center for juvenile offenders. He hated being there, but loved going to see the

band at the center play everyday. When he got the chance to go play in the

band, he quickly did.

  He first started out playing the Alto Horn then moved to the drums and

finally ending up with the trumpet. Two years later at the age of fourteen he

was released from the   center. He went out and got jobs to help get him to be

able to afford an instrument. His jobs included, selling papers, unloading

boats, and selling coal from a cart. On his off times he would go around to

clubs like the Funky Butt Hall to listen to bands play.

  A jazz musician named   King Oliver saw him and was impressed at his

attendance at so many of the local clubs that he inquired of him as to if he

wanted to learn to play the cornet. Armstrong said yes. He picked it up very

quickly and soon was playing in bands for people that were absent. This soon

lead to him starting his own band. This was all at the age of seventeen.

  Armstrong played with his band, known as Louis Armstrong Hot 5 or Hot

7, for two years and then King Oliver went to Chicago. Armstrong took a

spot in Kid Ory's orchestra one... [continues]

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