Here at the Louis Armstrong Playground, we honor a jazz legend. Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong lived nearby with his wife from 1943 until his death in 1971.
Louis Armstrong’s journey began unexpectedly. He was arrested at age eleven for firing a pistol on New Year’s Eve in 1912. A judge sent him to the Colored Waif’s Home for Boys. There he received his first musical instruction from Peter Davis.
Armstrong quickly gained recognition as a talented jazz cornet and trumpet player. In 1924 he moved from New Orleans to New York City with his wife Lillian Hardin. New York was becoming a jazz hub. Black musicians from New Orleans Chicago Kansas City and Memphis were drawn to the city’s jazz clubs.
Armstrong joined the Fletcher Henderson Orchestra. He was on his way to national fame. By the time he moved to Corona “Satchmo” was an international celebrity. The nickname came from “Satchel mouth” referring to his breath capacity.
Armstrong played with legends like Bessie Smith Glenn Miller and Bing Crosby. He recorded music performed for royalty filmed movies and played in various bands. Armstrong traveled about 300 days each year. After appearances on Dick Cavett the Tonight Show and performances at the Waldorf Astoria Louis Armstrong died on July 6 1971. He was a defining figure in 20th-century jazz and an innovator.
This area was once called West Flushing in 1854. Developers wanted to use the new Long Island Rail Road lines. In 1872 the area was renamed Corona meaning “crown” of villages. The population grew after rapid transit lines opened in 1917.
In 1995 the city gave this site to Parks to create a recreation center. It would serve the local communities of Queens. The Department of Cultural Affairs and Parks has managed the Louis Armstrong Center since its construction.
Originally it was a two-building complex offering social services. These services ranged from drug rehabilitation to job training. A third building was added in 1996. That same year it was named the Louis Armstrong Center.
The Louis Armstrong Center offers activities and programs. These include basketball soccer martial arts and dance classes. In 1996 a sculpture by Howard McCalebb called Little Dancers was installed in the courtyard of the Louis Armstrong Playground. Louis Armstrong’s legacy continues to inspire musicians and jazz lovers worldwide.