North Corona, New York Legend: Louis Armstrong

This article on the history of a major musical icon is brought to you by the personal injury attorneys in North Corona, New York at Banville Law.

North Corona, New York

North Corona is a neighborhood in Queens, New York, located between Corona and East Elmhurst. Flushing Meadows - Corona Park, the largest park in Queens with 1,255 acres of green space, is to its southeast. The Queens Museum and the Queens Zoo are a minute's drive from the neighborhood, giving it a family-friendly appeal.

The History of a Musical Icon

More charm offered from this quaint neighborhood is that it was once the home to Louis Armstrong; an American Jazz musician and trumpeter. Although born in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1901, he moved to North Corona, New York, in 1943. Armstrong and his fourth wife, Lucille, would live out the rest of their lives in the house still on 107th Street. Since his death in 1971 and Lucille's death in 1983, the house was converted to the Louis Armstrong House Museum. Lucille would leave all their belongings to the Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation and gave the house to the city of New York.

The Louis Armstrong House Museum offers visitors a look into the life of Louis Amstrong during his time at the North Corona house and includes his collection of artifacts, including the following:

• gold plated trumpet
• manuscripts
• photos
• clothing

Early History

Louis Armstrong was born in 1901 and only made it to the fifth grade to start working. With the money, he raised he saved to buy his first cornet. He would learn to play while serving time in the Colored Waif's Home for Boys, for firing a gun into the sky during a New Year's celebration. He would become part of a bank in Chicago in 1922 and by 1923 was making records with King Oliver. In 1925 Armstrong would begin his own group, Louis Armstrong and His Hot Five; this would be expanded to the Hot Seven in 1927. After touring and doing films throughout the 1930s, Armstrong would begin a new band due to the decline in big band popularity. Louis Armstrong and His All-Stars formed in 1947 and gained a strong following. By 1949, he was referred to as Ambassador Satch.

The Loss of a Musical Icon

Louis Armstrong would continue his tours and performances around the world, even after his first heart attack in 1959. Despite the doctor's urge to discontinue performing, his final appearance at the Waldorf-Astoria would be only a few months before his passing on July 6th, 1971, at his home in North Corona, New York. During his career, he performed alongside other great legends, including the following:

• Sippie Wallace
• Clara Smith
• Bessie Smith
• Carroll Dickerson Orchestra
• Jimmie Rodgers
• Bing Crosby
• Billie Holiday
• Dizzy Gillespie

Highlights

• 1928 - "West End Blues" was recorded and is known as the most famous recording in early jazz
• 1936 - the first autobiography is published, "Swing that Music"
• 1949 - appears on the cover of Time magazine
• 1949 - performs for the Pope Pius XII
• 1954 - the second autobiography is published, "Satchmo: My Life in New Orleans"
• 1964 - July 2nd is labeled "Louis Armstrong Day" at the World Fair in Flushing Meadows - Corona Park
• 1966 - appears on the cover of Life magazine

Major Musical Accomplishments

• 1949 - "Blueberry Hill"
• 1955 - "Mack the Knife"
• 1964 - "Hello, Dolly!"
• 1967 - "What a Wonderful World"

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• Willets Point, NY: Iron Triangle History

Our Local Office

For an experienced consultation regarding your rights after an auto accident, call our North Corona personal injury attorneys today.

Banville Law
104-68 Roosevelt Ave
Queens, NY 11368
(347) 991-9542