|
Today in New Orleans History |
 |
|
|
July 6
 Louis Armstrong Dies July 6, 1971  Jane Alley Birthplace of Louis Armstrong, 1964 From the Louisiana State Museum Daniel Louis "Satchmo"
Armstrong was born in a New Orleans ghetto on Jane Alley (now the location of the New Orleans police headquarters near Tulane
and Broad), the son of Willie Armstrong and Mary Ann "Mayann" (Miles?) of Boutté, Louisiana.
He claimed to have been born on the 4th of July, 1900 but his Baptismal certificate places his birth at August 4, 1901. In
early childhood he was raised by grandmother, Josephine Armstrong. As a young teenager he was arrested for firing a pistol on New Year's Eve, 1913 and placed in
the Colored Waifs' Home. He began playing music there and joined the Colored Waifs' Home Band,
under the direction of Peter Davis. He started out on the tambourine, then drums and alto horn and finally the cornet.
Louis left the Home in 1914 or 1915, worked at various jobs
and was taken under the wing of jazzman Joe "King" Oliver. Armstrong switched from cornet to trumpet between 1925
and 1928 and the rest is musical history. Louis Armstrong was one of the most influential jazz musicians of the 20th
century. While playing the London Palladium he acquired the nickname
"Satchelmouth" later shortened to "Satchmo." After earning fame, he seldom played in New Orleans because
of segregation laws but did return home in 1949 when he was chosen King Zulu and again in 1965
for a benefit. For many years he was sponsored by the U. S. State Department as
America's "Goodwill Ambassador". Daniel Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong died in his sleep at his home
in Corona, Queens, New York on July 6, 1971. Somewhat ironically, Storyville established on July
6, 1897. Armstrong was interred
in Flushing, New York cemetery. The Singer Bowl, in Flushing Meadows Park, Queens
was renamed Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong Park and Stadium and dedi-cated in October 1972. Armstrong
Park (formerly Congo Square and Beauregard Square) on Rampart Street in New Orleans was dedicated in April
1980. The former Moisant/New Orleans International Airport was renamed for him on July 5, 2001. Source: http://lahistory.org/site18.php  To receive an update for each day in New Orleans
history, join our facebook page
- Today in New Orleans History
Tweet
Born on September 26, 1918, Fred James Cassibry received a B.A. from Tulane University in 1941 and
an LL.B. from Tulane Law School in 1943. After serving in the Navy during World War II he became a field examiner for the
National Labor Relations Board from 1946 to 1948. He entered private practice in New Orleans from 1948 to 1961, and was a
New Orleans City Councilman from 1954 to 1961. He was a judge on the Civil District Court for Orleans Parish from 1961 to
1966. On October 11, 1966, Cassibry was nominated by President Lyndon B. Johnson to a new seat on the United States
District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana created by 80 Stat. 75. He was confirmed by the United States Senate
on October 20, 1966, and received his commission on November 3, 1966. He assumed senior status on March 15, 1984, serving
in that capacity until his retirement on April 3, 1987. He died on July 6, 1996. |
|
|
To receive an update for each day in New Orleans history,
join our facebook page - Today in New
Orleans History.
Analytics |
.
