First published 1985
Louis Armstrong transforms from a struggling musician in New Orleans into America's most recognizable entertainer. Collier follows Armstrong through the jazz capitals of Chicago and New York during the music's golden era. The biography reveals Armstrong's complex personality: his desperate need for acceptance, his jealous nature, and his talent for navigating a segregated entertainment industry. Collier documents Armstrong's musical evolution and his relationships with four different wives. The book explores Armstrong's conflicts with fellow musicians like Earl Hines and Zutty Singleton. Most significantly, Collier examines the tension between Armstrong's artistic genius and his pursuit of mainstream success. Some critics viewed this shift toward commercial appeal as abandoning his musical gifts. The narrative spans Armstrong's entire career until his death in 1971, when he had become one of America's most beloved public figures.
Genres: biography, 20th-century, american, african-american, non-fiction, music
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: complex-protagonist, rags-to-riches, redemption
Setting: Chicago, New Orleans, New York
Period: Golden Era, Segregation
416 pages · Paperback · Oxford University Press