SATCHMO:
THE STORY OF
LOUIS ARMSTRONG
BY
JEFF BIGGERS
Smashwords Edition
Copyright
2011
William Gladden Foundation
ISBN #1-56456-304-9
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE:
Coming Home
CHAPTER
TWO:
Back O’Town
CHAPTER THREE:
The Colored Waifs’ Home For Boys
CHAPTER FOUR:
Jazz
CHAPTER FIVE:
The Jazz Age
CHAPTER SIX:
Swing
CHAPTER SEVEN:
The Ambassador of Jazz
VOCABULARY
REVIEW QUESTIONS
CHAPTER ONE:
COMING HOME
The train station was packed with people. Standing on the edge of the platforms, men and women shouted and waved. Some clapped their hands to the music. The air was full of excitement. Eight marching bands practiced to the side.
The people of New Orleans were waiting for a great moment. It was 1932. Louis Armstrong, the famous jazz musician, was coming home.
Then, several boys cried out, pointing their fingers at the train tracks. “He’s coming! He’s coming!” All heads turned. Pouring great puffs of smoke from its engine, the train raced around the bend with a roar. The crowd did not even move back. As the train squealed to a stop, the tune of the bands rose with a rousing tempo.
With a wide smile full of surprise, Louis Armstrong stepped from the train. The greeting pleased him. He could hear people calling out their welcome. After years of playing in cities all over the world, the legendary African-American jazz trumpeter and singer had come home. Louis Armstrong was one of America’s favorite musicians.
A great parade began. Louis rode in a car with the top down. Along the streets, fans screamed and tried to shake his hand. Louis did not mind. He wanted to see all the new sights of his old city. So many memories came to his mind.
The car suddenly came to a halt. A man stepped to the side. He had the eyes of a proud father. Pointing behind him, unable to say a word, the man directed Louis’ gaze to a band of young boys standing straight in their uniforms. Two boys held a banner with the words, “Waifs’ Home Colored Band” written across it.
“You are their hero, Louis,” the man said. His name was Mr. Peter Davis. He looked back at the boys in the band, adding to Louis, “Would you visit with us while you are here?”
Louis laughed, and then he waved to the band members. Frozen with their instruments in their hands, some of the boys looked like they were too scared to play a note.
“Of course I will,” Louis shouted.
Louis Armstrong never forgot his first band.
Keeping his promise, Louis visited the Colored Waif’s Home for boys the next day. The waif’s home was a detention center for young boys who had been in trouble with the law. This was not the first time for Louis to visit the home. He had lived there years before, when he was a young boy.