Written and maintained by the Louis Armstrong Fellows.
2020 is here! A New Year and a new decade begins but, the New Year also brings in another cherished celebration, Mardi Gras. Carnival season is upon us, and all throughout New Orleans, people are engaging in various festivities and traditions leading up to Mardi Gras day, which will be February 25 this year. Alas,... Continue Reading →
Within the long history of jazz music, many people have made their mark in one way or another. Some through playing, others through its documentation and study. Among the latter, exist polarizing figures that valiantly stand firm in their beliefs and thoughts on jazz music. Hugues Panassié is one such figure. Panassié was a man... Continue Reading →
The influence of Louis Armstrong can be felt--or more appropriately, heard--all over the world. Satchmo was an international icon and the real ambassador of New Orleans jazz to hundreds of thousands of people across the globe. Louis’s presence and music were responsible for some genuinely incredible feats. Two Popes requested an audience with Louis; in... Continue Reading →
Lillian Hardin Armstrong was a pianist, composer, and entertainer. She traveled around the world and entertained numerous fans with her music. Originally from Memphis, Tennessee, Armstrong went to Fisk University for a year, rose up through the ranks in the music industry to play with King Oliver’s Creole Jazz band, and eventually had her own... Continue Reading →
It's the early 1900s in New Orleans, the birthplace of Jazz, the fabled city of music. Nick Duquesne runs a gambling den and club in the Storyville district of New Orleans, where he soon meets Marilee Smith, a young beauty from the upper crust of society. Naturally, a romantic story is in the works here;... Continue Reading →
Louis Armstrong was an accomplished musician, composer, and singer. During his free time Louis played his trumpet, wrote jokes, and recorded over 700 reels of audio. But there is one hobby that Louis had that not many people know about- Louis loved to make collages. These collages were made from newspaper clippings & headlines, letters,... Continue Reading →
What if someone told you that there was a place where you could reenact putting out the Chicago Fire, travel the Old Wild West with cowboys, and revel in Mardi Gras all within one space? To top it all off, you can see the most famous names in show business perform live; Nat King Cole,... Continue Reading →
From decade to decade, times change drastically as we progress forward in society. No doubt, change is inevitable, but not all things change--at least not as quickly as one would hope. One such issue which seems to somehow continue to be a hot-button topic is marijuana. Marijuana, its legitimacy as a medicinal drug, the penal... Continue Reading →
As a Fellow at the Louis Armstrong House Museum and Archives I get to see first hand the personal belongings of Louis and Lucille Armstrong. Since beginning my fellowship, I have been fascinated with the Armstrongs’ record collection. For my first curated collection of images on the Collections website , I selected a few images... Continue Reading →
