Hi all, 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.
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.
Great story thanks for sharing. A great demonstration of why we need to come together instead of accepting the hateful division we no experience from those who are trying to dominate us.
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.
Great story thanks for sharing. A great demonstration of why we need to come together instead of accepting the hateful division we no experience from those who are trying to dominate us.
Thanks for sharing, it is a beautiful story. I love substack.
Wonderful story! Makes me happy.
Thank you for this great story. The Star of David says it all.
Thanks for this lovely bit of history!
Love this story.
Lovely. However, I'm curious why the Karnofsky's weren't referred to as "his" family, especially after they adopted him, instead of "this" family?
Absolutely love this reminder. Thank you.