Born on August 4, 1901, Armstrong had a difficult childhood. His neighborhood was so dangerous, it was called the Battlefield. And his family didn’t have much money.

“He grew up without any shoes on his feet,” says Ricky Riccardi. He works at the Louis Armstrong House Museum in Corona, New York. “He sometimes didn’t know where his next meal was coming from.” 

To help support his family, Armstrong took jobs selling newspapers and collecting junk. He left school in the fifth grade. 

But Armstrong’s dream was to make music. He was living in the right place at the right time. In the early 1900s, a new style of music was born in New Orleans: jazz. Armstrong was surrounded by the sounds of jazz coming from local clubs. He taught himself to play the basic notes on the cornet, an instrument that’s similar to a trumpet. When he was 10, Armstrong and three friends would sing on the streets of New Orleans. People dropped coins in a hat for the boys.

“Early on, the seeds were planted that music might be his way out,” Riccardi says. 

Armstrong was born on August 4, 1901. He had a difficult childhood. His neighborhood was very dangerous. It was called the Battlefield. And his family didn’t have much money.

“He grew up without any shoes on his feet,” says Ricky Riccardi. He works at the Louis Armstrong House Museum. It’s in Corona, New York. “He sometimes didn’t know where his next meal was coming from.” 

Armstrong left school in the fifth grade. He took jobs selling newspapers and collecting junk. He did this to help support his family. 

But Armstrong’s dream was to make music. He was living in the right place at the right time. A new style of music was born in New Orleans in the early 1900s. It was called jazz. Armstrong was surrounded by the sounds of jazz coming from local clubs. He taught himself to play the basic notes on the cornet. That’s an instrument similar to a trumpet. When he was 10, Armstrong and three friends would sing on the streets of New Orleans. People dropped coins in a hat for the boys.

“Early on, the seeds were planted that music might be his way out,” Riccardi says. 

Armstrong’s life would change forever after he got into trouble on New Year’s Eve in 1912. He was sent to live in a home for troubled boys. There he got his first real musical training, including how to properly play the cornet. 

“Once he had a cornet in his hands, it was almost like it had magic powers,” says Riccardi.

Armstrong practiced morning, noon, and night. Before long, he was one of the best-known horn players in New Orleans. He later moved on to play in popular jazz bands in Chicago, Illinois, and New York City.

Armstrong and his bands made dozens of records from 1925 to 1928. They are considered some of the most important jazz recordings ever made.

Armstrong’s life would change forever on New Year’s Eve in 1912. He got in trouble and was sent to live in a home for troubled boys. There he got his first real musical training. He learned how to properly play the cornet. 

“Once he had a cornet in his hands, it was almost like it had magic powers,” says Riccardi.

Armstrong practiced morning, noon, and night. Before long, he was one of the best-known horn players in New Orleans. He later moved on to play in popular jazz bands in Chicago, Illinois, and New York City.

Armstrong and his bands made dozens of records from 1925 to 1928. They are considered some of the most important jazz recordings in history.

Armstrong’s unique style took the world by storm. Instead of playing music exactly as it’s written, jazz musicians often improvise. Armstrong was one of the best at it. He’d layer in bursts of scat singing, using his deep voice to make sounds like an instrument. Riccardi and other experts say his impact can still be heard in the music of today—from rock to hip-hop.

Armstrong continued to perform for decades. He was one of the world’s most-beloved entertainers when he died in 1971.

“In the end, he said all of his boyhood dreams had come true,” Riccardi says.

Armstrong’s unique style took the world by storm. Jazz musicians don't always play music exactly as it’s written. Instead, they often improvise. Armstrong was one of the best at it. He’d layer in bursts of scat singing. He used his deep voice to make sounds like an instrument. Riccardi and other experts say his impact can still be heard in the music of today. It can be heard in styles such as rock and hip-hop.

Armstrong continued to perform for decades. He was one of the world’s most-beloved entertainers when he died in 1971.

“In the end, he said all of his boyhood dreams had come true,” Riccardi says.

1. What evidence does the article give to show that Armstrong had a difficult childhood?

2. In the article, Ricky Riccardi states that “the seeds were planted that music might be [Armstrong’s] way out.” What does Riccardi mean?

3. How did Armstrong’s life change after he got in trouble on New Year’s Eve in 1912?

1. What evidence does the article give to show that Armstrong had a difficult childhood?

2. In the article, Ricky Riccardi states that “the seeds were planted that music might be [Armstrong’s] way out.” What does Riccardi mean?

3. How did Armstrong’s life change after he got in trouble on New Year’s Eve in 1912?