WKCR is very excited to present the second installment of our annual birthday broadcast for cornet, trumpet, and vocal jazz legend Louis Armstrong. Satchmo is the only figure at WKCR with the distinct honor of two birthday broadcasts every year: one on July 4 (which he cited as his birthday in his autobiography Swing That Music) and one on August 4 (which records suggest was his true birthday).

Armstrong grew up in New Orleans, a town bustling with the sounds of a new music. As a child, he worked to earn enough money to buy a cornet. He honed his talent and made his name in musical back-and-forths called “cutting contests.” In 1922, he joined Joe “King” Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band in Chicago. He moved to New York City in 1924 to join Fletcher Henderson’s orchestra.

His swing became the definitive sound of the era. Miles Davis once said, “you can tell the history of jazz in four words: Louis Armstrong. Charlie Parker.” Armstrong led his Hot Fives and Hot Sevens in celebrated recording sessions from 1925 through 1928. He also made classic recordings with other jazz greats: Ella Fitzgerald, Dave Brubeck, Duke Ellington, among others. While his sound on the cornet and trumpet was known far and wide, his raspy vocal style was even more iconic. In the 1950s, he was a household name––and face––appearing regularly on radio, television, and film. “Ambassador Satch” was a cultural icon even overseas, known worldwide as the face of jazz.

Listeners can tune in to our second 24-hour Louis Armstrong Birthday Broadcast on 89.9FM or stream the birthday broadcast live on our website, wkcr.org. Follow WKCR on Instagram (@wkcr) and Twitter (@WKCRFM) for updates about this special broadcast and future events. As always, online listening is available 24/7 at wkcr.org via our web stream.