Louis Armstrong, a key figure in jazz history known for hits like What a Wonderful World, had a challenging childhood in poverty and crime-ridden New Orleans. Despite this, he excelled in music, joining King Oliver’s band in Chicago and later achieving great success with his own recordings. Recent revelations about his mother and sister’s arrests for prostitution shed new light on his early life. A new book by Ricky Riccardi explores these discoveries, using unpublished materials to paint a fuller picture of Armstrong’s upbringing. Despite facing adversity, Armstrong’s resilience and talent propelled him to become a legendary musician, admired for his kindness and respect towards others. His remarkable survival in a dangerous environment is seen as a testament to his enduring legacy in the world of jazz. Riccardi glaubt, dass er von seinen Erinnerungen an Armut angetrieben wurde: „Er war einmal hungrig gewesen, er war arm gewesen – und er wollte nicht wieder so werden. Er hat sich bis zum Rand gedrängt, jede Nacht aufzutreten.“
