Louis Armstrong
A junk dealer's family advanced him $5 for a cornet; a reform home taught him to play it.
Louis Armstrong was born in 1901 in New Orleans, Louisiana, US. Louis Armstrong's background is described as Black American; grandson of enslaved people. Growing up, the family was in poverty — his father left at birth; he grew up in the neighborhood called the Battlefield, working from childhood. A junk dealer's family advanced him $5 for a cornet; a reform home taught him to play it.
- Born
- 1901 · New Orleans, Louisiana, US
- Roots
- Black American; grandson of enslaved people
- Family
- Poverty
- His father left at birth; he grew up in the neighborhood called the Battlefield, working from childhood.
- Education
- Left school in fifth grade; the Colored Waif's Home band was his conservatory
- Started with
- A $5 cornet
- Advanced by the Karnofskys, the Jewish junk-dealer family he worked for; he wore a Star of David for the rest of his life in tribute.
- Affiliations & societies
- None documented.
- Information only — claims like these are often unverifiable and may be wrong.
The pathway
- 1913 · age 11The Waif's Home
Sent away for firing a pistol on New Year's Eve; the home's band teacher puts a cornet properly in his hands.
- 1922 · age 21Chicago
Summoned north by his mentor King Oliver, up the river from the riverboat bands.
- 1925 · age 24The Hot Five
The recordings that move jazz from ensemble to improvised solo.
- 1926 · age 25Scat
Heebie Jeebies — by his telling, the lyric sheet fell and he kept singing.
- 1957 · age 56Little Rock
Publicly excoriates Eisenhower over school desegregation and cancels a state-sponsored Soviet tour.
- 1964 · age 62Hello, Dolly!
Knocks the Beatles off number one — the oldest artist to top the US chart.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Louis Armstrong from?
Louis Armstrong was born in 1901 in New Orleans, Louisiana, US. Their background is described as Black American; grandson of enslaved people.
When was Louis Armstrong born?
Louis Armstrong was born in 1901, in New Orleans, Louisiana, US.
What is Louis Armstrong's background or ethnicity?
Louis Armstrong's roots are described as Black American; grandson of enslaved people. These are broad categories drawn from public sources, not statements about how the person identifies.
Where did Louis Armstrong go to school?
Louis Armstrong's education: Left school in fifth grade; the Colored Waif's Home band was his conservatory.
What was Louis Armstrong's family background growing up?
At birth the family was in poverty. His father left at birth; he grew up in the neighborhood called the Battlefield, working from childhood.
How did Louis Armstrong get started?
Louis Armstrong started with a $5 cornet. Advanced by the Karnofskys, the Jewish junk-dealer family he worked for; he wore a Star of David for the rest of his life in tribute.
Sources
Compiled from these references and contemporaneous press reporting. Figures are approximate; verify before relying on them.