Louis Armstrong was reborn with a trumpet

Louis Armstrong, born in 1901, was the most influential musician of the 20th century, but his first mention in the newspaper did little to foreshadow the man he would become. For shooting a gun, he was sentenced to the Colored Waifs Home.

Louis Armstrong in black face as King of Zulu in a 1949 Mardi Gras parade

It was there he received the first formal instruction in music and his first instrument, a cornet. The horn would ultimately define Armstrong, and he would ultimately redefine the horn.

But years before Louis Armstrong’s achievements were mentioned in the newspaper, his arrest in 1913 on New Year’s Day was covered by the Times-Democrat.

During Armstrong’s return to New Orleans in 1931, his first since leaving in 1922, he visited the Milne Boys Home in Gentilly. The facility had replaced the old Colored Waif’s Home in Mid-City where Armstrong had been incarcerated. His music teacher then was Peter Davis.

Armstrong, nicknamed Satchmo or Pops, became a world-acclaimed personality who revolutionized jazz and popular music with his signature style of singing and trumpet playing. On March 3, 1949, he reigned as king of Zulu on Mardi Gras.

Louis Armstrong Park in Faubourg Treme was created to honor the city’s most famous favorite son and to preserve the site of Congo Square, the historic meeting space of slaves in the 1800s.

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Louis Armstrong's birthday celebrated on Jackson Square

I live in a city where amazing events take place every day. So, I have to get used to missing a few and enjoying the ones where I get free tickets.

Such was a ringside event Thursday night in the private banquet rooms on the second floor of Muriel's Jackson Square. Though the description was a bit vague, I suspected it would be a worthwhile venture and called a musical friend on short notice to join me. Winding up the steep back stairs, the suite of rooms felt like a brothel (like I've ever been in one!) with plush couches, dim lighting, hidden nooks and paintings of naked ladies all about. 

After enjoying cocktails, pecan-crusted puppy drum and shrimp étouffee, we were served a historical musical discourse about the famed Louis Armstrong, aka Satchmo, born 100 years ago that day.

Critically acclaimed British music writer Richard Havers, co-producer of a new, comprehensive boxed set from Universal Music Group/Verve of great Armstrong recordings, “Satchmo” is being released at the 2011 Satchmo SummerFest.  The set is being hailed as “the most complete Louis Armstrong boxed set ever made available."

In attendance was George Avakian, producer of million-seller singles of music by Armstrong as well as Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington, Dave Brubeck, Erroll Garner, Miles Davis, Mahalia Jackson and Sonny Rollins. We were clearly in the midst of a very insider group, but I shared with the woman sitting beside me that my friend and I had once opened for Bob Hope at the Municipal Auditorium, going on right before the Dingalings - true!

Partway through the program, a surprise guest made an appearance. Dr. John, master of "folklorique, mysterioso sounds that coalesce in New Orleans from African, the Caribbean and South America," according to his promoter.

Avakian plans to produce a new tribute to Armstrong, interpreted by Dr. John. The working title is "Dr. John meets Louis Armstrong."