Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong was born in one of New Orleans' poorest areas in 1901. At the age of 16 he left New Orleans and joined his first band in search of stardom. Since the 1920s, Queens has seen the arrival of many jazz artists, including Armstrong, Fats Waller, Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday . He is credited for starting an influx of historic jazz musicians into the borough - including Dizzy Gillespie - who lived around the corner from Armstrong. By 1937, he was a world-famous musician. Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong moved to his house in Corona in 1937 and resided there until his death on July 6, 1971. He left an enduring legacy in his adopted neighborhood of Corona. He could have lived anywhere he wanted, but he chose to live like a regular guy in Corona, Queens. He was elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (under the category Early Influence)and was a charter inductee of the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame in 1978. More than 30 years after his passing, the house where he lived with his wife Lucille still provides a shrine for Armstrong's legacy.
The house, which is a national historic landmark, offers daily tours that showcase many objects, like his wife Lucille's favorite Emilio Pucci dresses with psychedelic purple, black and white print, and the gold-plated bathroom decorated with floor-to-ceiling mirrors, which was once sought after by the Italian magazine Vogue for a photo shoot, according to tour guides at the museum. One of Armstrong's lasting legacies is the originality of his home, Most items in the house, from the furniture to the silver wallpaper in the bedroom to the Torah that sits in the living room, were owned by the Armstrongs.
Armstrong is still remembered by his neighbors for waiting his turn in line at the barbershop around the corner, going over to friends' houses for dinner and handing out dollar bills to children. Armstrong is also known by a host of other nicknames, the most famous being "Satchmo". Armstrong loved the new name so much that he had it inscribed on at least two of his trumpets and had it printed on his personal stationery. Armstrong also appeared in over 30 movies and wrote two autobiographies.
Embittered by the treatment of blacks in his hometown of New Orleans, he chose to be buried in New York City.
Satchmo's Movies:
- A Rhapsody in Black and Blue (1932)
- Pennies from Heaven (1936)
- Every Day's a Holiday (1937)
- Artists and Models (1937)
- Doctor Rhythm aka Dr. Rhythm (1938)
- Going Places (1939)
- Cabin in the Sky (1943)
- Atlantic City (1944)
- Jam Session (1944)
- Pillow to Post (1945)
- New Orleans (1947)
- Cowboy Cavalier (1948)
- Outlaw Brand (1948)
- A Song is Born (1948)
- Je Suis de la Revue aka I'm in the Revue (1951)
- Here Comes the Groom (1951)
- Glory Alley (1952)
- The Glenn Miller Story (1954)
- Ford Star Jubilee: You're the Top (1956)
- High Society (1956)
- The Edsel Show (1957)
- The Five Pennies (1959)
- Die Nacht Vor Der Premiere (1959)
- The Beat Generation aka This Rebel Age (1959)
- Paris Blues (1961)
- When the Boys Meet the Girls (1965)
- A Man Called Adam (1966)
- Louis Armstrong (documentary 1968)
- Hello, Dolly! (1969)
- Kid Punch Miller: 'Til the Butcher Cuts Him Down (1971)
Satchmo's Personal Quotes:
- "I never tried to prove nothing, just wanted to give a good show. My life has always been my music, it's always come first, but the music ain't worth nothing if you can't lay it on the public. The main thing is to live for that audience, 'cause what you're there for is to please the people."
- "All music is folk music. I ain't never heard no horse sing a song."
- What is jazz? Man, if you have to ask you'll never know.
- "There's some folks, that, if they don't know, you can't tell 'em."
- "If it wasn't for jazz, there wouldn't be no rock and roll."
- "It sure feels good to be up there with those Beatles." (On being asked about his new number 1 song "Hello Dolly".)
The Louis Armstrong House is located at 34-56 107th St. in Corona. This picture to the right is the Armstrong residense and the Armstrong Museum. The guided tours of the home are on average around 40 to 45 minutes long. The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs assumed ownership of the House (a request from Lucille Armstrong in her will), and provided for Queens College to administer it.
Diehard fans wanting to learn more about "Satchmo" can check out the Louis Armstrong Archives, which is housed at Queens College in Flushing. The archive is open to the public to listen to home-recorded tapes, read personal manuscripts, study sheet music, and view videos and photographs. To learn more or to arrange a group tour, call (718) 478-8274.
If you've got the time OR you're in the neighborhood... Check it out!!
Born: Aug 4, 1901 - New Orleans, LA
Died: Jul 6, 1971 - Queens, New York City, NY
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