4 August 1901
Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, to Mary Ann (Mayann) and William Armstrong.
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Louis with his mother, Mayann, and sister, Mama Lucy (Beatrice), c. 1922.
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1901 - 1907
William Armstrong abandons the family during Louis's infancy. Louis spends the first years of his life living with his grandmother, Josephine Armstrong. After age five, Louis lives in a two room house near Liberty and Perdido Streets with his mother and sister, Beatrice (who was nicknamed Mama Lucy). The family lives in stark poverty.
Circa 1907
Forms a vocal quartet with three other boys and performs on street corners for tips. The Karnofskys, a family of Russian Jewish immigrants, hires Louis to work on their junk wagon. Louis purchases his first cornet with money loaned to him by the Karnofskys.
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