Archive Record
Metadata
Catalog Number |
1987.9.010 |
Title |
Letters to Leonard Feather |
Object Type |
Correspondence |
Collection |
Louis Armstrong Collection |
Description |
Copies of various letters Louis sent to Leonard Feather, sent to Lucille on July 16, 1979 for possible inclusion in a book. Letters include: August 5, 1941 - Louis discusses his favorite trumpet players, naming Bunny Berigan, Harry James, Roy Eldridge, Shelton "Scad" Hemphill, Erskine Hawkins, Frank Galbreath and Jean Prince. 2 leaves, numbered [1]-2. Photocopy. September 18, 1941 - Louis mentions playing a segregated dance in Atlanta, watching the dancers with Alpha. Asks him to tell Joe Glaser to get arrangements of the tunes he records "note for note" so he can play them a dances. Thanks Feather for coming to Hollywood to help him with a movie about his life. In celebration of his 25 years in jazz, he names his most important events: the Fleischmann's Yeast radio program, making movies, performing "Ain't Misbehavin'" in "Hot Chocolates," etc. Louis names his favorite records (includes "Memories of You," "West End Blues," "Ol' Man Mose," "Swing That Music" and "Confessin'." During a recent trip to New Orleans, Louis saw old-timers such as Alphonse Picou, Manuel Manetta, Maurice Durant and Bunk Johnson. Louis mentions playing Scott Joplin's rags. 3 leaves, numbered [1]-3. Photocopy. September 20, 1941 - Letter to Joe Glaser about a diet Alpha put him on. Includes copy of a "Nine Day Diet" by Alpha and Louis. Mentions writing to Elliot Paul and Orson Welles. 2 leaves, letter and diet chart. Photocopy. October 1, 1941 - Louis apologizes to Feather for taking to long to write. Brags that his band is full of clean musicians and gets in a discussion about hair "konks." Mentions Zutty Singleton and Ted Koehler and "the good old days." Louis talks about playing the "Star Spangled Banner" for soldiers in Florida. Louis relates a joke about Winston Churchill he told to the soldiers. Louis talks about a fight that broke out at a dance he played. Mentions George Grow and Ann Baker. Louis relates a compliment a white trumpet player gave him about how all trumpet players play with "an essence of Satchmo Armstrong." Louis brags about losing weight and his diet chart. Louis runs down the personnel of his orchestra (and their weights). Louis tells his "alligator" joke, mentioning he got it from the blackface comedian George Williams. Louis talks about visiting Bunk Johnson. Also mentions running into Don Albert, Paul Barbarin and others. Mentions going to New Orleans recently, bringing back memories of King Oliver, Bunk and Emanuel Perez. Mentions seeing his grandmother Josephine and sister Beatrice. 14 leaves, numbered [1]-14. Photocopy. December 5, 1946 - Louis understands that Feather and Glaser are planning a concert at Carnegie Hall so he makes his desires known about the event, suggesting they bring in the musicians he played with in the film "New Orleans" instead of "every old Tom Dick & Harry." Louis gives details about the musicians and songs from "New Orleans." Mentions Lucille, Billie Holiday and Leslie Scott. 2 leaves, numbered [1]-2. Photocopy. December 21, 1946 - Louis's letter to Melody Maker magazine and his fans in England in general. Praises Leonard Feather and the Melody maker. Discusses playing Armstrong bases. Reminisces about getting the name "Satchmo" from Percy Brooks. Asks about Nat Gonnella. Mentions winning Esquire awards. Gives details about the film "New Orleans." Reminisces about King Oliver and New Orleans. Names Oliver and Bunny Berigan as his favorite two trumpeters. Talks about Lucille and Joe Glaser, two additions to his life who weren't with him during his last trip to England. Gives a preview of his February 7, 1947 Carnegie Hall concert with Edmond Hall. Sends regards to Don Redman. Mentions Hugues Panassie. Praises Joe Garland and gives the run-down of his band. 5 leaves, numbered [1]-5. Photocopy. June 29, 1953 - Louis mentions the new typewriter Lucille got him for his birthday. Discusses New Orleans and being named King of the Zulus. Talks about experiencing Mardi Gras as a kid with his mother and father. Mentions Sid Catlett on the float with Velma Middleton. Praises Paul Barbarin. Mentions Hugues Panassie being in attendance. 5 leaves, numbered [1]-9. Photocopy. June 28, 1969 - Handwritten letter about Joe Glaser's funeral. Mentions he's still practicing and "about to feel like my old self again." 3 leaves. Photocopy. |
People |
Armstrong, Alpha Smith Armstrong, Beatrice "Mama Lucy" Armstrong, Josephine Armstrong, Lucille Wilson Armstrong, Mayann Armstrong, Willie Baker, Ann Barbarin, Paul Berigan, Bunny Brooks, Percy Catlett, Sid Churchill, Winston Durand, Maurice Eldridge, Roy Feather, Leonard Galbreath, Frank Garland, Joe Glaser, Joe Gonnella, Nat Grow, George Hall, Edmond Hawkins, Erskine Hemphill, Shelton James, Harry Johnson, Bunk Koehler, Ted Manetta, Manuel Middleton, Velma Oliver, King Panassie, Hugues Paul, Elliott Perez, Emanuel Picou, Alphonse Prince, Jean Redman, Don Scott, Leslie Singleton, Zutty Welles, Orson Williams, George |
Search Terms |
Carnegie Hall Connie's Hot Chocolates Diets England Esquire (magazine) Flesichmann's Yeast broadcasts King of the Zulus Mardi Gras Melody Maker (magazine) New Orleans |
Date |
July 16, 1979 |
Year Range from |
1941 |
Year Range to |
1979 |
Creator |
Louis Armstrong |
Accession number |
1987.9 |