Object Details
- Artist
- Woodward's Studio, c. 1920 - 1930
- Sitter
- Louis Armstrong, 4 Aug 1901 - 6 Jul 1971
- Exhibition Label
- Born New Orleans, Louisiana
- Jazz trumpeter and singer Louis Armstrong was also known as “Satchmo” or “Pops.” His first formal music lessons took place at the Colored Waifs’ Home in New Orleans, where Armstrong was detained as a juvenile delinquent for firing a pistol on New Year’s Eve. After his release about eighteen months later, he pursued a career as a musician. Playing with pick-up bands and in small clubs, Armstrong, his mentor Joe “King” Oliver, Jelly Roll Morton, Sidney Bechet, and others began creating new band music out of blues and ragtime. In the 1920s, as Armstrong left New Orleans for Chicago and New York City, his popularity exploded. He wowed audiences with groundbreaking trumpet solos, improvisations, and his “scat” singing.
- This portrait shows the young Armstrong with his instrument. The reverse side lists Armstrong’s popular recordings from 1927 and 1928, including “West End Blues.”
- Credit Line
- National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
- c. 1928
- Object number
- NPG.2009.54
- Restrictions & Rights
- CC0
- Type
- Medium
- Halftone on paper
- Dimensions
- Sheet: 25.5 x 20 cm (10 1/16 x 7 7/8")
- See more items in
- National Portrait Gallery Collection
- National Portrait Gallery
- Topic
- Music\Musical instrument\Trumpet
- Costume\Dress Accessory\Neckwear\Tie\Bowtie
- Louis Armstrong: Male
- Louis Armstrong: Performing Arts\Performer\Actor\Movie
- Louis Armstrong: Performing Arts\Performer\Comedian
- Louis Armstrong: Performing Arts\Performer\Musician\Singer\Jazz singer
- Louis Armstrong: Performing Arts\Performer\Musician\Jazz musician
- Louis Armstrong: Performing Arts\Performer\Musician\Horn player\Trumpeter
- Louis Armstrong: Grammy
- Portrait
- Record ID
- npg_NPG.2009.54
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sm40506ad45-b513-4a34-a642-f03fb33ff4a2
Related Content
