Louis Armstrong Accomplishments

Louis Armstrong once said, “Seems to me it ain't the world that's so bad but what we're doing to it, and all I'm saying is: see what a wonderful world it would be if only we'd give it a chance. Love, baby - love is love. That's the secret.” Louis Armstrong gave the world a chance to see how beautiful the world really is. He showed everyone how much potential the world has through his love of music. Somehow, Armstrong looked past his imperfect childhood and looked at the world from a new, positive perspective. In many ways, Louis Armstrong had a very tough life, yet he found a way to overcome the challenges in his early life and rise above his challenges through music and became a master at jazz. Louis Armstrong’s childhood shaped the way he

30), and “They even loaned him the money to buy his first cornet” (30). It is so sad that both of his parents did not choose to want, love, or be present for him. However, it was very generous of another family to have taken him in. While growing up, his “already evident interest in music was encouraged and [with the help of the Karnofskys,] he was given instruction on cornet and made a member of the band” (Williams 1). The Karnofskys paved the way for an unwanted son to have a rewarding career and childhood where one could pursue their dreams. A long life of hard work and unwanted freedom allowed Armstrong to pursue his dreams of music. Because of one of Armstrong’s mistakes, his musical career changed forever. After Armstrong “[fired] a pistol; [he got] arrested and sent to the Colored Waifs’ Home, where he remained for about two years” (Williams 1). Without knowing it, his poor choice sculpted his life as an artist to their masterpiece of art. Later, Armstrong “found a mentor in Joseph ‘King’ Oliver” (1). For the first time, Armstrong found a friend and an idol to guide him in his

The adage of the adage. Despite all the popularity that Armstrong got, he still strived to stay true to himself and not forget his roots. This is where humbleness in a human being creates popularity. Louis Armstrong left a legacy that will last for many generations to come. After a long life, sadly “As the decade came to a close, however, a variety of heart, liver, and kidney disorders forced Armstrong to slow down” (“Louis Armstrong” 3) and “On July 6, however, he suffered a heart attack and died at his home in Queens” (3). Although an iconic man died, he will never be forgotten because Armstrong gave jazz its personality. Along with his legacy, he left behind some souvenirs. “At his death in 1971 Armstrong left behind a testament to his riches, a sheaf of signed photographs given him by dancers with whom he had performed over the years [...] each one a token of the value he placed on his dancing colleagues, each a reminder of a larger sphere of interaction so conspicuously absent from his vast legacy of sound recordings” (Harker 2). Armstrong left mementos from his life for future generations to learn about him and how he loved performing with a wide variety of different talented