Louis Armstrong was born on August 4, 1901 in New Orleans. He was born into a poor family and grew up in a rough neighborhood. His father had abandoned the family and his mother was not always there due to her turning to prostitution. Although it would be considered bad times to spend his youth, he looked to music. “Everytime I close my eyes blowing that trumpet of mine, I look right in the heart of good old New Orleans… It has given me something to live for.” (Louis Armstrong). He always had a deep connection with jazz that held him together, and growing up in the center of it all, is part of what probably made him into the legend he became.
Growing up, Armstrong had a lot of inspiration to look from. Even though he lived in poverty, his hometown had a unique culture. New Orleans was the birthplace and the home of the first noteworthy players of jazz. He …show more content…
In 1918, King Oliver left to become big in Chicago. Armstrong replaced him in Kid Ory’s band, and then he joined one of the most popular bands in New Orleans. Armstrong had already been in and out of famous bands where he had experiences playing in multiple parties and bars. Eventually, he didn’t have to work manual labor jobs and he was able to play full time and it became a lifestyle for him. He spent his summers on riverboats playing with a band on the sea. This is where he honed his skills and met some of the biggest jazz stars that likely inspired him to go even further toward that