NEW YORK, NY — July 4, 2025 — WKCR-FM is proud to continue its long-standing tradition of honoring the life and legacy of the legendary Louis Armstrong with a 24-hour broadcast exclusively featuring his music, beginning at midnight on Friday, July 4th, 2025. All regular programming will be preempted for this annual tribute to one of the greatest icons in American music.
Though officially born on August 4, 1901, Louis Armstrong insisted on celebrating his birthday on July 4th, intertwining his story with that of the nation and the birth of jazz itself. In his autobiography Swing That Music, Armstrong famously wrote, “Jazz and I get born together.” This Independence Day, WKCR once again honors Armstrong’s symbolic birthday with a full day of his recordings—from early Hot Five and Hot Seven sessions to his late-career hits like “Hello, Dolly” and “What a Wonderful World.”
Born and raised in New Orleans, Armstrong was deeply influenced by the musical traditions of his hometown: the syncopated rags of Scott Joplin, somber funeral marches, and brassy street parades that defined the early jazz scene. By 1922, Armstrong had become a featured soloist in King Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band, quickly emerging as a formidable musical voice. His revolutionary approach to rhythm and phrasing came to define the sound of swing.
After a groundbreaking stint with Fletcher Henderson's Orchestra in New York in 1924—where he inspired fellow musicians including Coleman Hawkins—Armstrong made his most influential recordings with the Hot Fives and Hot Sevens beginning in 1927, collaborating with jazz luminaries like Kid Ory, Lil Hardin, Earl Hines, and Johnny Dodds. He went on to lead a powerful big band through the 1930s and, in 1947, formed his beloved small group, the All Stars, which included Jack Teagarden, Earl Hines, and Barney Bigard among its rotating members.
A profound cultural ambassador, Armstrong’s music crossed racial and musical boundaries. Though he didn’t compose many original pieces, his trumpet playing—both technically dazzling and emotionally direct—and his instantly recognizable vocal style redefined what jazz could be. His influence touched generations of artists, including Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday, and his warmth, humor, and charisma earned him admiration worldwide.
Listeners can tune in via WKCR 89.9 FM NY, HD radio, or stream online at wkcr.org.
