06/21/2026
Happy Father's Day, Friends of Dreamland! Known as the Father of the Jazz Trumpet, Louis Armstrong is one of several jazz icons who performed here at Taborian Hall and Dreamland Ballroom 🎺
Born in New Orleans, Louisiana on August 4, 1901, Louis Armstrong grew up in poverty and dropped out of school after the 5th grade to go to work. His first jobs earned him enough to help him buy his first cornet, a musical instrument similar to a trumpet that is smaller and has a mellower tone.
After being sent to the Colored Waif’s Home for Boys in 1912, Armstrong learned how to properly play his new instrument under Peter Davis and soon became leader of the school’s brass band. Two years later, Armstrong decided to pursue music professionally, going on to study under legendary cornetist Joe “King” Oliver while also slowly gaining notoriety for his skill.
In 1922, Armstrong joined Oliver’s band in Chicago and they began to record music together a year later. After meeting and marrying pianist Lillian Hardin shortly after, Armstrong chose to venture out and launch a solo career (at her encouragement!), making records under his own name for the very first time.
These first records by Louis Armstrong and the His Five (that would later become the Hot Seven) are considered to be some of the most influential in jazz. His virtuosic trumpet playing, innovative improvisation, s**t singing, and swing style transformed jazz from an ensemble tradition into a soloist’s art form.
Armstrong became an international star through recordings, radio, films, and extensive touring. He was also an important Civil Rights pioneer by not only breaking barriers as a young man, but also publicly criticizing the government’s response to the 1957 Little Rock Nine high school integration crisis.
Armstrong's many hit songs include “Blueberry Hill,” “Mack the Knife,” and “Hello, Dolly!,” which famously displaced the Beatles from the top of the charts in 1964. Despite declining health, and against doctors' wishes, Armstrong continued performing until shortly before his death in New York on July 6, 1971.
We here at Dreamland Ballroom are proud to honor his incredible legacy this Father's Day! 🎺
