Songwriters Hall of Fame

Louis Armstrong, one of the towering giants in 20th century American music, was born in New Orleans on July 4, 1900.

He learned to play cornet at a waifs’ home and by 1918 was a protégé of King Oliver. Four years later he came to Chicago to join Oliver’s band. By the time he formed his own band in 1926, young ‘Satchmo’ was already a legend and the records that group made the next few years helped create a new international audience for jazz. Louis’ greatest popularity came with his uniquely raspy, scat-tinged vocals starting in 1929. IN years to come, frequent movie appearances as well as concerts and records made him one of the world’s best known and most beloved entertainers.

From 1926 through 1954, Armstrong had over 70 top twenty hit recordings including ‘All of Me’ (#1, 1932), ‘Ain’t Misbehavin’’ (1929, #7), ‘St. Louis Blues’ (#11, 1930), ‘You Can Depend on Me’ (#4, 1932), ‘Love, You Funny Thing’ (#4, 1932), ‘Body and Soul’ (#7, 1932), ‘I’m In the Mood for Love’ (#3, 1935), ‘You Are My Lucky Star’ (#6, 1935), ‘Jeepers Creepers’ (#12, 1939), ‘La Vie En Rose’ (1950) and ‘A Kiss to Build a Dream On’ (1951).

Louis Armstrong died in New York City on July 6, 1971.