He was among the most influential figures in jazz. His career spanned five decades and several eras in the history of jazz. Armstrong was born and raised in New Orleans. Coming to prominence in the s as an inventive trumpet and cornet player, he was a foundational influence in jazz, shifting the focus of the music from collective improvisation to solo performance. Armstrong earned a reputation at " cutting contests ", and his fame reached band leader Fletcher Henderson.
Armstrong moved to New York City, where he became a featured and musically influential band soloist and recording artist. By the s, Armstrong was an international musical icon, appearing regularly in radio and television broadcasts and on film. Apart from his music, he also beloved as an entertainer, often joking with the audience and keeping a joyful public image at all times.
With his instantly recognizable, rich, gravelly voice, Armstrong was also an influential singer and skillful improviser. He was also skilled at scat singing. By the end of Armstrong's life, his influence had spread to popular music. He was one of the first popular African-American entertainers to "cross over" to wide popularity with white and international audiences. Armstrong rarely publicly discussed racial issues, to the dismay of fellow African Americans, but took a well-publicized stand for desegregation in the Little Rock crisis.
He could access the upper echelons of American society at a time when this was difficult for Black men. Armstrong is believed to have been born in New Orleans on August 4, , but the date has been heavily debated. Armstrong himself often claimed he was born on July 4, Mary Albert was from Boutte, Louisiana and gave birth at home when she was about Less than a year and a half later, they had a daughter, Beatrice "Mama Lucy" Armstrong β , who Albert raised.
Louis Armstrong was raised by his grandmother until the age of five, when he was returned to his mother. Armstrong lived with his mother and sister during this time and worked for the Karnoffskys, [ 14 ] a family of Lithuanian Jews , at their home.
