Louis Armstrong was born in dire poverty in New Orleans in 1901 to the daughter of a former slave and had a childhood that included time spent in a home for delinquent boys - where his study of music began. Jazz (considered a novelty at that time) was just being born from the Blues and Louis was at the epicenter. For the rest of his life, he would be totally captivated by the music, and maintain an irrepressible creativity that spurred him to become the undisputed king of jazz trumpet for a generation.

Having grown up in a tough part of New Orleans, he was perfectly at home with hustlers, gamblers pimps - but grew to be just as comfortable with the rich and privileged that were drawn to him because of his artistry.  He was self-possessed, fearful of no one, kept a typewriter so that he could write letters and avidly keep notes about his experiences, traveled and played internationally, had access to many places denied other African-Americans at that time, often held court backstage after performances with adoring fans from all stations in life... and fervently believed in being not only an artist - but an entertainer.  

Louis Armstrong tremendously influenced the evolution of jazz by shifting the focus from collective playing to improvisational solo performances; he emerged as the first great jazz soloist. Miles Davis once said, "You know, you can't play anything on a horn that Louis hasn't played." Bebop architect Dizzy Gillespie quipped that the more you learn about playing the trumpet, the more you have to respect Louis Armstrong.  He was America's first international jazz superstar... followed by Duke Ellington.

The Louis Armstrong Centennial Radio Project, hosted by author Stanley Crouch sheds light on this man born into segregated America, who rather than being trapped by the limitations of being black at that time, became a fully engaged sovereign of his own destiny.  

We bring you sixteen 3-minute segments created by Producer Jim Luce, in which we hear the voices of Louis himself, Ella, Billie, Dizzy, Louis Jordan and many, many more who bring to life the force of nature that was Louis Armstrong.