Happy Louis Armstrong's Birthday!

It's Louis Armstrong's Birthday... probably.

Here are just a few of the reasons why he was one of the coolest people ever.

1. Played with such beauty, heart, and soul he could actually play the racism out of a person's heart. No, for real. A lawyer involved in Brown VS Board of Education describes how hearing Armstrong play changed his views forever. Read more here: https://rhapsodyinbooks.wordpress.com/2009/05/17/brown-v-board-of-education-the-unwitting-contribution-of-louis-armstrong/

2. He was being sent around the world by the State Dept. as a musical ambassador but cancelled a tour of The Soviet Union, criticizing Eisenhower's handling of desegregation in Little Rock. He used very strong language and took much heat for it, but refused to back down.

3. Upon being told his racially integrated band could not play in his home town of New Orleans, he announced he'd never play there again, and would not be buried there either.

4. When doctors told him it was time to retire, he said no. It seems he didn't see much point in living a bit longer if it was to be without playing music.

5. West End Blues. Possibly the most influential jazz recording of all time.



Pops, Dipper, Satch, Satchmo, Satchelmouth Louis Armstrong. I'll be listening to him all day. I hope you'll join me. Feel free to share your favorite songs of his in the comments.