Louis Armstrong Biography Facts
Louis Armstrong was a fantastic trumpet player. In fact, he was a trumpeter, bandleader, singer, soloist, and a comedian. Fans thought of him as one of the most effective artists in jazz history. He was famous for the songs, “Star Dust,” “La Vie En Rose,” and “What a Wonderful World.” When he appeared on stage he not only fascinated the jazz field, he impressed all well known music.
Louis Armstrong was born on August 4, 1901 in New Orleans Louisiana. When he was little he did not have an easy childhood. It was actually pretty rough for him. Even though his dad was a factory worker he left his family a little after when Louis was born. His mother frequently went to prostitution. When this occurred she left him with his affectionate grandmother. In fifth grade Louis was forced to leave school and start working.
When he was growing up a nearby family that were Jewish, named the Karnofskys, gave him a job. He gathered junk and transferred coal. They usually requested if he wanted to go over and eat with them. They also inspired him to start singing. In 1912 on New Years Eve he discharged his father’s gun in the air. For this action he was arrested and later taken to Colored Waif’s Home For Boys. There he was taught educational music on the cornet, soon he was in love with music. Finally in 1914 he was freed from the home and at once he started to think about making a life of music. His teen life was very fast.
Before Louis was famous he worked some regular jobs. He sold newspaper and moved coal into city’s famed red light district. He later started gaining a reputation of a elegant blues player. In 1918 he married a woman named Daisy Parker, a prostitute. They had many fights and arguments. Some of them were pretty violent. He finally adopted Clarence, a three year old boy. Clarence’s mother was Louis’s cousin and she died while giving birth to him. Clarence had a severe head injury which caused him to be mentally disabled, but Louis still took care of him.
