After last night’s debate that was over quicker than Mike Tyson’s 91 second knockout of Michael Spinks, I came across a feel-good story about Louis Armstrong on my Facebook feed. I posted it to X and it took off — people were surprised to learn of this story. So I thought I would share it here as well.
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Many people who have seen the below photo at my parent’s home are often surprised to see him wearing the Star of David and have asked why.
We’ve told this story a thousand times but it is worth repeating here, especially during these laugh or cry times. ;) However, instead of telling it my way, I’m copying and pasting the short FB story here:
A Jewish family named Karnofsky, who immigrated from Lithuania to the United States, took pity on the 7-year-old boy who was living in the hardscrabble New Orleans streets and brought him to their home.
There he stayed and spent the night in this Jewish family home, where for the first time in his life he was treated with kindness and tenderness.
When he went to bed, Mrs. Karnofski sang him Russian lullabies, which he sang with her. Later he learned to sing and play several Russian and Jewish songs. '
Over time, this boy became the adopted son of this family. Mr. Karnofsky gave him money to buy his first musical instrument, as was the custom in Jewish families.
Later, when he became a professional musician and composer, he used these Jewish melodies in compositions such as St. James's Hospital and Go Down Moses.
The little boy grew up and wrote a book about this Jewish family, who adopted him in 1907.
In memory of this family and until the end of his life, he wore the Star of David and said that in this family he learned "how to live a real life and self-determination."
This little boy's name was Louis Armstrong. This little boy was called Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong. Louis Armstrong proudly spoke fluent Yiddish and “Satchmo” is Yiddish for “big cheeks,” a nickname some say was given to him by Mrs. Karnofsky!
As a New York City resident, I'm aware of the Louis Armstrong Museum in Corona, Queens. If you visit their website, you'll read a pared-down version of Armstrong's relationship with the Karnofsky family:
"Louis Armstrong was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on August 4, 1901. He was raised by his mother Mayann in a neighborhood so dangerous it was called “The Battlefield.” He only had a fifth-grade education, dropping out of school early to go to work. An early job working for the Jewish Karnofsky family allowed Armstrong to make enough money to purchase his first cornet."
Not sure why the discrepancies...but Armstrong does credit the Karnofskys in a short, recorded interview on the same website. I have to assume there was more there, given the fact that Armstrong wore the Star of David his whole life and also spoke Yiddish. My mother and grandparents spoke Yiddish, and I never learned it! But Louis did. Interesting.
It's not a competition, of course, but I appreciate the extra details in Eli's version, assuming it's accurate. Does the Facebook post provide references? Just curious. In any case, thank you for the post, it's very moving.
I love Louis Armstrong...he was one of the greatest of the greats.
As a New York City resident, I'm aware of the Louis Armstrong Museum in Corona, Queens. If you visit their website, you'll read a pared-down version of Armstrong's relationship with the Karnofsky family:
"Louis Armstrong was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on August 4, 1901. He was raised by his mother Mayann in a neighborhood so dangerous it was called “The Battlefield.” He only had a fifth-grade education, dropping out of school early to go to work. An early job working for the Jewish Karnofsky family allowed Armstrong to make enough money to purchase his first cornet."
https://www.louisarmstronghouse.org/biography/
Not sure why the discrepancies...but Armstrong does credit the Karnofskys in a short, recorded interview on the same website. I have to assume there was more there, given the fact that Armstrong wore the Star of David his whole life and also spoke Yiddish. My mother and grandparents spoke Yiddish, and I never learned it! But Louis did. Interesting.
It's not a competition, of course, but I appreciate the extra details in Eli's version, assuming it's accurate. Does the Facebook post provide references? Just curious. In any case, thank you for the post, it's very moving.
I love Louis Armstrong...he was one of the greatest of the greats.
Thank you so much! I didn't know that story. It's terrific.