Louis Armstrong (1901-1971)

Louis Armstrong was an influential trumpeter and composer, gaining popularity throughout the 1900s. Born and raised in New Orleans, Armstrong influenced the jazz scene by focusing on solo performance. His stage presence and voice made him famous internationally. Louis was one of the first African-American musicians to break through to white and international audiences. During the Little-Rock crisis in 1957, he took a stance for desegregation. Armstrong died of a heart attack in 1971, but his legacy continues. His personality and popularity as a public figure has kept Armstrong widely recognized even today.