Fifty Two Years Ago Today Was The Funeral Of Louis Armstrong
Is “Satchmo” Remembered Today?
Louis Armstrong funeral July 9, 1971 photo: Globe
It is impossible to say who will be remembered by the multitudes years after their passing. I would hope Louis Armstrong will be among those whose name and music goes on for eternity.
Louis Armstrong brought love and joy everywhere he went. And the world universally returned that love.
On July 6, 1971 Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong died at the age of 69 of a heart attack in his home in Corona, Queens.
Armstrong’s staid funeral was held July 9, 1971 at the Corona Congregational Church because “that is what he wanted,” according to his widow Lucille. There was no New Orleans style funeral with bands playing and people dancing and singing. About 500 people crammed into the small church. In a quiet voice Peggy Lee sang The Lord’s Prayer. Al Hibbler sang Nobody Knows The Trouble I’ve Seen. The service concluded with When The Saints Go Marching In.
The Public Says Goodbye July 8, 1971
A different scene had occurred the day before when the public was permitted to pay its respects to Armstrong at the 77th Regiment Armory in Manhattan. A thousand mourners an hour streamed by Armstrong’s open casket. No celebrities just the public, both young and old. Even the police charged with keeping order outside the Armory went in to take a moment to mourn at Satchmo’s bier. By the conclusion at 10:30 P.M. 25,000 persons had passed Armstrong’s coffin.
FINAL TRIBUTE
New York, NY – Paying his last respects, New Yorker Artie Siefert places trumpet on the coffin of world famous trumpeter Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong (top photo) and renders hand salute (bottom) as the body lies in state in the 77th Regiment Armory in midtown Manhattan here early July 8. Hundreds of mourners filed past the bier of the (sic) 71-year-old musician who died in his sleep early July 6. credit: UPI photo July 8, 1971
When he was older Armstrong was still playing before young audiences. Armstrong noted. “I ain’t worried about my younger generation public, no way. We play high schools, universities, all the kids come and they just rave. They still dig old Satch. Music is music. Ain’t but two kinds of music… good or bad. So I try to play as good as I can at all times, and if it sounds good to me, its got to sound good to everyone else.”
Today’s younger generation knows a lot and also knows nothing.
Even in 1971 during a CBS television program remembering Louis Armstrong’s life, other famous jazz musicians complain that kids today don’t know Louis Armstrong.
Today in our multi-culture-centric world, do younger people know about Louis Armstrong? Greatness should not be classified by time, color, race, religion, age, gender or any other limiting taxonomy. Greatness has its own terms which Louis Armstrong fulfilled to the highest degree.
Armstrong’s musical career stretches back a hundred years. Even if the man himself has been forgotten by many in the five decades since his death, there’s no question his music is still relevant. All you have to do is listen.
From The Louis Armstrong House Museum is this 1971 CBS tribute. It was broadcast once and never re-aired.
