Armstrong was born into [[poverty]] in a rundown [[New Orleans]] neighborhood on August 4, 1901. His father, a factory worker named William Armstrong, abandoned the family soon after Louis' birth; his upbringing was done by his mother and maternal grandmother. He took an interest in music at an early age, and acquired a [[cornet]] by the time he reached the age of 11. He had also dropped out of school by then, and his dream of entering an informal jazz group was interupted by a trip to reform school after he had fired a gun during the New Year's celebration of 1912. But the school turned out to be a blessing in disguise; among the curriculum he was able to study music, play both the cornet and the bugle, and become leader of the school's marching band. | Armstrong was born into [[poverty]] in a rundown [[New Orleans]] neighborhood on August 4, 1901. His father, a factory worker named William Armstrong, abandoned the family soon after Louis' birth; his upbringing was done by his mother and maternal grandmother. He took an interest in music at an early age, and acquired a [[cornet]] by the time he reached the age of 11. He had also dropped out of school by then, and his dream of entering an informal jazz group was interupted by a trip to reform school after he had fired a gun during the New Year's celebration of 1912. But the school turned out to be a blessing in disguise; among the curriculum he was able to study music, play both the cornet and the bugle, and become leader of the school's marching band. |