Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong was born on August 6, 1971 in New Orleans, Louisiana. He was born in the bad part nicknamed "The Battlefield" and had a difficult childhood. On New Year's Eve in 1912, Louis fired his stepfather's gun in the air and was arrested on the spot. In prison, Armstrong fell in love with music and the cornet. When he was released in 1914 and started to earn a reputation a decent blues player and was mentored by one of the best cornet players in town, Joe "King" Oliver. In 1918 he actually replaced Oliver in Kid Ory's Band. In the summer of 1922, Armstrong got a call to join King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band as second cornet. Armstrong had a very successful career but I am only focusing on the 1920s. You can see his whole bio by pressing the button below. Louis died in his sleep on July 6, 1971 in Queens, New York.