Louis Armstrong is rightfully considered one of the great musicians of the last century. He was one of those who made jazz, which was born in the American slums, a truly high art. The fate of the famous trumpeter was not at all cloudless, and the beginning of life did not at all promise world fame. Armstrong, it seems, had to repeat the path of hundreds of poor Negro boys, forever unknown. But everything turned out differently.
The future great musician was born in New Orleans into a family that would now be called "difficult" or "problematic." The father earned his living by day labor, and besides, he abandoned his wife, a washerwoman and two young children. The mother was forced to become a prostitute, and the children were looked after by their grandmother. When Louis grew up a little, his mother took him, but she had neither the strength nor the means to take care of him properly. But there were kind people who took pity on the homeless child. Louis moved to the Karnofsky family, who had recently moved to America from Eastern Europe. Like all the boys of his circle, Armstrong made his own living from an early age.
His musical career began, oddly enough, in a correctional institution. He ended up in a colored juvenile prison for stealing a gun from a police officer and shooting in the street. No, Armstrong didn't attack anyone. He took the weapon for a while from the policeman, who at that moment was served by his mother. Be that as it may, in the correctional institution they really managed to set him on the right path. It turned out that the young bully has a very good ear and a great desire to learn music. He had sung with street bands and played drums before, and in the colony he mastered several wind instruments, including the cornet. And around the same time I decided to become a professional.
There were a great many entertainment venues in which amateur orchestras played in those years in America. Armstrong constantly performed with various bands. They played mainly in restaurants, and sometimes just on the street. At that time he did not have his own instruments; he had to borrow them from more wealthy acquaintances.
Until the end of his days, Armstrong considered his teacher King Oliver, a well-known cornetist in New Orleans. He noticed the young musician and really taught him a lot. He also invited Louis to Chicago, where he moved in 1918. Oliver then needed a second cornet player for the orchestra, and he remembered a capable young man who had already accumulated good experience in various orchestras by that time. The Creole Jazz Band was then extremely popular in Chicago. With this orchestra, Armstrong made his first recordings. At the same time, he met his future second wife, pianist Lin Hardin. It was she who persuaded Armstrong to start an independent musical career.
Louis Armstrong became famous during his work with the Fletcher Henderson Orchestra. It was in New York, where the young family moved shortly after the wedding. Many jazz lovers came to the concert hoping to hear exactly Armstrong, who by this time had already acquired a unique performing style. Upon his return to Chicago, Armstrong worked for some time with various performers, and also recorded several compositions. His notes were sold out almost instantly. At the same time, the musician forever abandoned the cornet that brought him fame. His instrument is a trumpet, and it was with her that he achieved worldwide recognition a little later. He began to sing again, and this was extremely popular with the jazz lovers.
In 1929, Armstrong finally moved to New York. The orchestras in which he worked performed popular dance music. The new musical culture has found a niche for the talented trumpeter. He toured extensively, including with such famous musicians as Duke Ellington and Louis Russell. These trips brought him all-American fame. The tour in New Orleans was a real triumph. In the 30s, the musician took part in filming for the first time, and this was also a step towards worldwide popularity.
In the early 30s, jazz literally conquered the whole world. He was listened to by people of all walks of life and skin color. Armstrong's European tour began in 1933 with a trip to England. He visited the Scandinavian countries, North Africa, Central Europe. Successful performances in France were of particular importance. It was they who became evidence of the world recognition of the great musician.
