First published 1990
Louis Armstrong picks up his trumpet in the smoky clubs of New Orleans, where music flows like the Mississippi River through his veins. The young cornet player discovers his gift can lift audiences from their seats and transport them to another world. But as his reputation grows beyond the Crescent City, Louis faces the complex realities of being a Black artist in America. He must choose between commercial success and artistic integrity while navigating the racial tensions that define his era. From the honky-tonks of Storyville to the grand stages of Chicago and New York, Louis wrestles with what it means to be true to his music and himself. This fictional portrait captures the heart of a man whose horn became the voice of a generation, exploring the price of genius and the power of music to transcend boundaries.
Genres: biography, american-fiction, 20th-century, american, african-american, biographical-fiction, african-american-historical-fiction, american-history
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, thought-provoking
Tropes: artistic-integrity, commercial-success
Setting: New Orleans, Chicago, New York
Period: 20th Century
Paperback · Holloway House Pub Co