It’s not everyone who can choose the time and circumstances of their birth.
One of the most important figures in American music really had no idea when he was born. So he and his manager settled on July 4. What could be more American than that? Furthermore, 1900 signified the start of a new century, the beginning of a new era. Thus it was that Louis Armstrong was “born” in New Orleans on July 4, 1900.
It wasn’t until the 1980s, well after Armstrong’s death in 1971, that a researcher discovered Armstrong’s baptismal records and it was established that his actual birthdate was August 4, 1901. So Armstrong would have been 120 years-old today. He died fifty years ago, on July 6.
Here is a special document, indeed. Armstrong and his All-Stars perform “St. Louis Blues,” with the New York Philharmonic conducted by Leonard Bernstein (Bernstein’s name mispronounced by Edward R. Murrow!) at Lewisohn Stadium on July 14, 1956. The composer, W.C. Handy, is in attendance.
Happy birthday, Satchmo!