Early life Louis Armstrong

louis armstrong (2002), hand-colored etching adi holzer

armstrong stated born on july 4, 1900, many years thought armstrong born in new orleans on july 4, 1900, perfect day man wrote musical declaration of independence americans of century. estimable writer gary giddins discovered birth certificate proves armstrong born aug. 4, 1901, date has been noted in many biographies. although died in 1971, not until mid-1980s true birth date, august 4, 1901, discovered researcher tad jones through examination of baptismal records. @ least 1 other biography treats july 4th birth date myth.

armstrong born in new orleans on august 4, 1901 mary albert , william armstrong. mary albert hailed boutte, louisiana, , gave birth while around sixteen years of age @ home on jane alley, between perdido , poydras streets. william armstrong abandoned family shortly after louis born. 2 years later, william sired daughter, beatrice mama lucy armstrong, under care of mary albert. josephine, louis maternal grandmother, raised him until five, after returned mary albert. spent youth in poverty, in rough neighborhood known battlefield. began attendance @ fisk school boys, learned literacy , gained exposure music. schools racially segregated in new orleans. fisk located in neighborhood , enrolled african-american children. during school years, continued bring in money delivering coal , other odd jobs working karnoffskys, family of lituanian jews. sold coal nickel per bucket, in many cases, brothels in storyville. attended fisk sporadically 6 years of age, quit during fifth grade, @ age eleven. making rounds karnoffsky family while delivering coal exposed louis music spasm bands, , house musicians playing @ brothels , dance halls. last type of venue included pete lala s, joe king oliver performed other famous musicians drop in jam.

the karnofskys took him in , treated him family; knowing lived without father, fed , nurtured him. later wrote memoir of relationship karnofskys, louis armstrong + jewish family in new orleans, la., year of 1907. in described discovery family subject discrimination other white folks felt better jews: 7 years old see ungodly treatment white folks handing poor jewish family whom worked for. armstrong wore star of david pendant rest of life , wrote learned them: how live—real life , determination. influence of karnofsky remembered in new orleans karnofsky project, nonprofit organization dedicated accepting donated musical instruments put them hands of eager child not otherwise take part in wonderful learning experience. first music gig may have been @ side of karnoffsky s junk wagon. distinguish other hawkers, louis tried playing tin horn instead of ringing bell means of attracting attention of potential customers. morris karnoffsky advanced young louis $2 toward purchase of $5 cornet pawn shop near corner of perdido , rampart streets, cleaned , oiled soiled instrument. in general, family encouraged louis musical pursuits.

around age eleven, mary albert moved one-room house on perdido street louis, daughter lucy, , common-law husband, tom lee. lived next door mary albert s brother ike , 2 sons. after dropping out of fisk school in 1912, armstrong joined quartet of boys sang in streets money. started trouble. cornet player bunk johnson said taught armstrong (then 11) play ear @ dago tony s tonk in new orleans, although in later years armstrong gave credit oliver. armstrong hardly looked @ youth worst of times drew inspiration instead: every time close eyes blowing trumpet of mine—i right in heart of old new orleans... has given me live for.

he hung out in dance halls close home, observed licentious dancing quadrille.

armstrong arrested on december 31, 1912 firing .38 revolver in air. had gone sing on streets money, , had taken stepfather s handgun, without permission. 2 detectives arrested , booked armstrong new orleans juvenile court, held overnight. on new year s day, appeared before judge andrew wilson in downtown new orleans court, presided on hearing lasting fifteen minutes. armstrong sentenced detention @ colored waif s home. home had been established 4 years earlier. before november 1906, young african-american offenders had been sent jails, housed other adults, unlike young white offenders, had been sent juvenile facility reserved white. lodgings , meals @ colored waif s home spartan, there no mattresses , many times ate bread , molasses. captain jones, overseer, ran home military camp , employed severe corporal punishment.

armstrong first trumpet instructor, peter davis, in 1965

at colored waif s home, armstrong developed cornet playing skills playing in band other residents, had been sent multiple times general delinquency, notably firing stepfather s pistol air @ new year s eve celebration (it empty shot, police records confirm). professor peter davis (who appeared @ home @ request of administrator, captain joseph jones. instilled discipline in , provided musical training otherwise self-taught armstrong. eventually, davis made armstrong band leader. home band played around new orleans , thirteen-year-old louis began draw attention cornet playing, including kid ory, starting him on musical career.

on june 14, 1914, judge wilson agreed release armstrong custody father, william armstrong, , new stepmother, gertrude. lived in household, 2 stepbrothers, several months. when gertrude gave birth daughter, however, william no longer welcomed louis, , returned live birth mother, mayann. house cramped had sleep in same bed mother , sister. mother still lived in same part of battleground neighborhood, left him exposed old temptations. armstrong continued seek work musician until found first dance hall job @ henry ponce s, club owner ties organized crime. met six-foot-six drummer, black benny, became protector , guide.

armstrong played in brass band parades in new orleans. took opportunity take in music of local musicians, such kid ory, , idol, joe king oliver. later, played in brass bands , riverboats of new orleans, first playing on local excursion boat in september 1918, , began traveling well-regarded band of fate marable, toured on steamboat sidney streckfus steamers line , down mississippi river. marable, took pride in musical knowledge, insisted armstrong , other musicians in band learn sightreading. described time marable going university, since gave him wider experience working written arrangements. armstrong did return new orleans periodically. in 1919, joe oliver decided go north , resigned position in kid ory s band; armstrong replaced him. became second trumpet tuxedo brass band.