Louis Armstrong Timeline

(1901 - 1971)

Louis Armstrong (1901–1971), nicknamed 'Satchmo,' was an American jazz trumpeter, vocalist, and composer who rose from humble beginnings in New Orleans to become one of the most influential figures in jazz history. His virtuosic playing, distinctive gravelly voice, and charismatic stage presence transformed jazz into a solo art form and brought it to audiences worldwide. More Less

Go to: Timeline | Event List | Key Facts | Directory

Early Life

Born in New Orleans

Aug 4, 1901

Louis Armstrong was born into poverty in New Orleans, Louisiana, often claiming a birth date of July 4, 1900, though his actual birth date was August 4, 1901. Raised in a rough neighborhood known as 'The Battlefield,' he grew up surrounded by the rich musical culture of New Orleans.

Image source: Louis Armstrong

Sent to Colored Waifs' Home

Jan 1, 1912

After firing a pistol during a New Year's celebration, young Louis was sent to the Colored Waifs' Home for Boys. There he received formal instruction on the cornet from Professor Peter Davis, laying the foundation for his future as a musician.

Plays on Mississippi riverboats with Fate Marable

Jan 1, 1918 - Dec 31, 1921

Armstrong honed his craft playing cornet on Mississippi River steamboats with Fate Marable's band, gaining experience performing written arrangements and sight-reading music while entertaining passengers along the river.

Image source: Fate Marable

Joins King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band in Chicago

Aug 1, 1922

Armstrong moved to Chicago at the invitation of his mentor, cornetist Joe 'King' Oliver, to join his Creole Jazz Band as second cornetist. This position launched his professional career in the vibrant jazz scene of Chicago's South Side.

Image source: King Oliver

Marries Lillian Hardin

Feb 5, 1924

Armstrong married Lil Hardin, the pianist in King Oliver's band. She would become an influential force in his career, encouraging him to seek greater recognition and pursue opportunities beyond his role as a sideman.

Image source: Lil Hardin Armstrong

Career Milestones

Joins Fletcher Henderson's orchestra in New York

Sep 1, 1924 - Sep 1, 1925

Armstrong joined the Fletcher Henderson Orchestra in New York City, where his innovative solos transformed the band's sound and influenced the entire ensemble to adopt hotter, more swinging rhythms that shaped the future of big band jazz.

Image source: Fletcher Henderson

Switches from cornet to trumpet

Jan 1, 1927

Around this time Armstrong transitioned permanently from the cornet to the trumpet, whose brighter tone helped define the bold sound that became his signature and influenced generations of trumpeters.

Image source: Trumpet

Appears in Broadway show Hot Chocolates

Jun 20, 1929

Armstrong made his Broadway debut in the revue 'Hot Chocolates,' where he performed Fats Waller's 'Ain't Misbehavin',' transforming the song into a hit and establishing himself as a major popular entertainer.

Forms Louis Armstrong and His Orchestra

Jan 1, 1930 - Dec 31, 1935

During the early 1930s Armstrong led his own big bands, touring extensively across the United States and Europe while recording numerous popular songs that broadened his appeal as both a jazz virtuoso and a pop vocalist.

European tour debut

Jan 1, 1932

Armstrong made his first trip to Europe, performing in London and Paris to enthusiastic audiences and critical acclaim, cementing his international reputation and spreading American jazz across the Atlantic.

Takes over Luis Russell's orchestra

Jan 1, 1935 - Dec 31, 1943

Armstrong assumed leadership of Luis Russell's big band, which served as his backing group for nearly a decade of recordings and performances, yielding hits like 'Jubilee' and solidifying his status as America's leading jazz performer.

Image source: Luis Russell

Appears in film Pennies from Heaven

Nov 25, 1936

Armstrong appeared alongside Bing Crosby in the film 'Pennies from Heaven,' one of several Hollywood roles that showcased his charisma and brought jazz music to mainstream movie audiences nationwide.

Image source: Pennies from Heaven (1981 film)

Stars in film Cabin in the Sky

Apr 9, 1943

Armstrong appeared in the all-Black musical film 'Cabin in the Sky,' directed by Vincente Minnelli, delivering memorable performances that further established him as a beloved figure in American entertainment.

Image source: Cabin in the Sky (film)

Forms All Stars sextet

Aug 1, 1947

Armstrong disbanded his big band and formed a smaller group, the All Stars, featuring Jack Teagarden and Earl Hines among others. The combo revitalized his career and allowed his improvisational brilliance to shine anew.

Image source: Louis Armstrong discography

Town Hall concert with Edmond Hall

Nov 30, 1947

A celebrated Town Hall concert in New York captured the newly formed All Stars in top form, and the resulting live recording is considered one of the finest documents of Armstrong's mature small-group style.

First international goodwill ambassador tour begins

Jan 1, 1955 - Dec 31, 1955

Sponsored by the U.S. State Department, Armstrong embarked on extensive world tours through Africa, Asia, and Europe, earning him the nickname 'Ambassador Satch' and serving as a cultural representative of America abroad.

Performs What a Wonderful World on TV special

Jan 1, 1968

Armstrong delivered a poignant television performance of 'What a Wonderful World,' which helped introduce the song to a global audience and showcased the enduring emotional power of his voice late in his career.

Image source: What a Wonderful World

Recordings and Hits

Records first Hot Five sides

Nov 12, 1925

Armstrong began recording under his own name with the studio group Louis Armstrong and His Hot Five, producing a series of records that showcased his virtuosic cornet playing and introduced his distinctive gravelly singing voice.

Image source: Louis Armstrong Hot Five and Hot Seven Sessions

Records West End Blues

Jun 28, 1928

With His Hot Five, Armstrong recorded 'West End Blues,' featuring his legendary opening cadenza. The recording is widely regarded as one of the most important in jazz history and demonstrated the artistic heights the genre could reach.

Records Mack the Knife

Sep 28, 1955

Armstrong recorded his definitive version of Kurt Weill's 'Mack the Knife' from The Threepenny Opera, complete with improvised lyrics. The recording became a major hit and a signature song of his career.

Image source: Mack the Knife

Album Ella and Louis released

Feb 1, 1956

Armstrong collaborated with singer Ella Fitzgerald on the acclaimed album 'Ella and Louis,' a landmark pairing of two jazz legends whose warm duets and individual brilliance produced some of the most cherished vocal jazz recordings ever made.

Image source: Ella and Louis

Porgy and Bess album with Ella Fitzgerald

Oct 1, 1957

Armstrong and Fitzgerald recorded a celebrated album of selections from Gershwin's opera Porgy and Bess, arranged by Russ Garcia, widely regarded as one of the greatest interpretations of the Gershwin classic.

Image source: Porgy and Bess (Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong album)

Hello, Dolly! tops charts

May 9, 1964

Armstrong's recording of 'Hello, Dolly!' knocked The Beatles off the top of the Billboard Hot 100, making him, at age 62, the oldest artist ever to score a number-one hit and winning him a Grammy Award.

Image source: Hello, Dolly! (song)

What a Wonderful World recorded

Aug 16, 1967

Armstrong recorded 'What a Wonderful World,' a hopeful ballad that initially saw modest chart success in the U.S. but later became one of the most beloved and recognizable songs of the twentieth century.

Later Years and Legacy

Publishes autobiography Swing That Music

Jan 1, 1936

Armstrong published his first autobiography, 'Swing That Music,' chronicling his rise from New Orleans poverty to international stardom and offering readers a personal account of the birth of jazz.

Image source: Swing music

Publishes second autobiography Satchmo: My Life in New Orleans

Jan 1, 1954

Armstrong published 'Satchmo: My Life in New Orleans,' a vivid memoir detailing his childhood in New Orleans, his apprenticeship in the city's musical scene, and the people who shaped his early years.

Image source: Louis Armstrong

Speaks out against school desegregation crisis in Little Rock

Sep 17, 1957

In response to Governor Orval Faubus's attempt to block integration at Little Rock Central High School, Armstrong publicly criticized President Eisenhower and canceled a planned State Department tour of Russia, taking a courageous civil rights stand.

Image source: Little Rock Nine

Final public performance

Mar 10, 1971

Despite serious health problems, Armstrong gave his last public performance at the Empire Room of the Waldorf-Astoria hotel in New York City, capping a five-decade career that had transformed American music.

Death in New York

Jul 6, 1971

Louis Armstrong died of a heart attack in his sleep at his home in Corona, Queens, at the age of 69. His death prompted worldwide tributes honoring the man who had done more than anyone to shape jazz as an art form.

Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award

Jan 1, 1972

The Recording Academy posthumously honored Armstrong with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing his monumental contributions to American music and his role as jazz's foremost ambassador.

Key Facts

Louis Armstrong was born on August 4, 1901, in New Orleans, Louisiana, one of the poorest sections of the city.
He rose to prominence in the 1920s with his Hot Five and Hot Seven recordings, which revolutionized jazz by emphasizing solo improvisation.
His 1967 recording of 'What a Wonderful World' became one of his signature songs and an enduring classic.
In 1932 he performed in Europe for the first time, becoming a global ambassador of jazz and American culture.
Armstrong received numerous honors including the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1972, and he is remembered as 'Pops' or 'Satchmo' by fans worldwide.

Source

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