Archive Record
Images
Metadata
Catalog Number |
1987.2.117 |
Title |
The Satchmo Story |
Object Type |
Manuscript |
Collection |
Louis Armstrong Collection |
Description |
Chapter presumably written for Louis’s second autobiography, dictated to one of his secretaries (probably Velma Ford) in 1955 (with handwritten corrections by Louis). 11-page typed document, beginning on page 11 and ending on page 21 (first ten pages are presumably lost). Contents include: “A million laughs that come from gage”; various stories about marijuana; much about Mezz Mezzrow and the moments they spent together; a dancer friend of theirs, “Little Joey”; hanging around with the old-timers in New Orleans; Louis’s vocal quartet in New Orleans, singing “My Brazillian Beauty” and “Barber Shop Chord”; Black Benny;; recording “Hobo You Can’t Ride This Train” with Mezz’s help; Mezz organizing mixed bands; the book “Really the Blues”; seeing Mezz and Hugues Panassie in Paris; details about Louis’s return to New Orleans in 1931; Professor Sherman Cook; playing for the black fans on the levees; a white announcer refusing to announce Louis on the air; Louis’s manager, “the Daltons”; dance being cancelled in New Orleans; Louis’s baseball team, the “Secret 9”; Louis attending one of their games; Al Washington playing “St. Louis Blues” and holding a note for 13 minutes; living with Alpha; not getting along with Lil; playing Sebastian’s Cotton Club in Culver City; getting introduced to Tallulah Bankhead; Louis’s new Buick; Louis’s friend “Soldier Boy”; Frank Sebastian; Johnny Collins; playing for Bing Crosby; recordings with Les Hite’s Band; and much more. |
People |
Armstrong, Alpha Smith Armstrong, Lil Hardin Bankhead, Tallulah Collins, Johnny Cook, Sherman Crosby, Bing Ford, Velma Hite, Les Mezzrow, Mezz Panassie, Hugues Sebastian, Frank Washington, Al Williams, "Black Benny" |
Search Terms |
Cotton Club (nightclub) France Marijuana New Orleans Paris Tape recordings, Audio |
Year Range from |
1955 |
Year Range to |
1956 |
Creator |
Louis Armstrong |
Caption |
Page 1 (1987.2.117) |
Accession number |
1987.2 |