Just a Lucky So and So
The Story of Louis Armstrong
Candlewick Press · Print & ebook · December 27, 2022
He was born "Black, poor, and lucky." The glowing story of "Satchmo"—the great jazz musician, Louis Armstrong.
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- Who it’s for
- Louis Armstrong’s life comes into focus through jazz, improvisation, and a buoyant personality.
- Themes
- Jazz and musical innovation, Louis Armstrong's life and career, Black musical achievement
- Genres
- Jazz, Musicians' Lives for Kids, African American Life (U.S.)
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Start with this bookAbout this book
He was born "Black, poor, and lucky." The glowing story of "Satchmo"—the great jazz musician, Louis Armstrong. Louis Armstrong has been called the most important improviser in the history of jazz. Although his New Orleans neighborhood was poor in nearly everything else, it was rich in superb music. Young Louis took it all in, especially the cornet blowing of Joe "King" Oliver.
Continue reading
But after a run-in with the police, 11-year-old Louis was sent away to the Colored Waif’s Home for Boys where he became a disciplined musician in the school’s revered marching band. Ultimately, he was to travel the world from Chicago to Paris and would transform jazz through his improvised singing ("scatting") and masterful trumpet playing. He played with Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, and other jazz greats of his day. Armstrong was the first African-American man to host a national radio show, and the first jazz musiciain to write an autobiography. This is a joyful tribute to the virtuoso musician and buoyant personality who introduced much of the world to jazz. The author's note includes a detailed biography and resources to learn more about Louis Armstrong and jazz.
Jazz in a Life
Louis Armstrong’s life comes into focus through jazz, improvisation, and a buoyant personality.
Come here for
- Louis Armstrong’s path from New Orleans music to international stages
- Cornet, trumpet, and the invention of scat singing
Expect
- A joyful portrait of a musician who helped transform jazz
- An author’s note with biography and resources for exploring Armstrong and jazz
Where it sits
| Musicians' Lives for Kids | 67% |
|---|---|
| Jazz | 53% |
| African American Life (U.S.) | 30% |
Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.
Publisher categories
- Musicians' Lives for Kids
- African American Life (U.S.)
- Jazz
- Authors
- Lesa Cline-Ransome
- Publisher
- Candlewick Press
- Published
- December 27, 2022
- Format
- Print & ebook
- Theme
- Jazz and musical innovation · Louis Armstrong's life and career · Black musical achievement
- Reading lane
- Musicians' Lives for Kids