Herbert Behrens / Anefo, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
American Trumpeter and Singer • August 4, 1901- July 6, 1971 • American Jazz
Fast Facts
- Born in New Orleans, Louisiana and then moved to Chicago and settled in Queens, New York.
- He began to play the cornet under the direction of Peter Davis when he was 11 years old.
- Known as the “Father of Jazz Music,” his career spanned over five decades from the 1920’s to the 1960’s.
- Best known for his improvisational skills, scat singing, trumpet playing, compositional skills and stage presence.
- He was in movies, appeared on TV, on radio shows, in night clubs, theatres, dance halls and was a world famous entertainer.
- He would perform up to 300 live shows a year on average.
- The music of Hot Seven and Hot Five catapulted Armstrong to jazz fame in the 1920’s.
- Entered into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990 for “early influence.”
- Several songs have been included in the Grammy Hall of Fame for their importance including “Mack the Knife,” “Hello Dolly,” and “What a Wonderful World.”
