Louis Armstrong: Jazz Legend

American Graphic

by Terry Collins, Richmond Wayne Pope II (Illustrator), Ricky Riccardi (Consultant Editor)

Louis Armstrong, also known as Satchmo and Pops, became an American jazz legend in the 1920s. His voice and skill with instruments helped him become a popular musician in a time where America was racially divided. Watch as this skilled musician learns to play, buys his first instrument, and becomes one of the best music makers of the era.

Genres: Music, Graphic Novels

32 pages, Library Binding

First published August 1, 2012

About the author

I write. I teach. I teach writing. I write about teaching. I read about writing and write about reading and teach about both when not dealing with the paperwork being a high school educator demands in our current political clime. I'm National Board Certified in my discipline (English).

I've won awards, published constantly since 1989, and just wrapped up a two-year tenure as the editor and designer of Pine Whispers (the newsletter for the North Carolina Poetry Society).

I make time for reflection, which comes in handy with all of the hats I wear. I also buy, sell and collect pop culture items ... from books and comics, to lunch boxes and action figures.

And if you've read this far, please accept my humble thanks.

Reviews

[Yasmin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too brief a look at the long and complex life of one of the world's great men. There really a sense of how terrific a musician and composer Armstrong was. Nothing on the racism he experienced nor the transition of music tastes that Armstrong had to face. Nothing much at all for children in my view.

[Alivia Wagner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked how he loved to played instruments.When he was little he always wanted to play.When he got older he made a band and his friends were in it and they enjoyed it because everyone liked how the instruments were different. I liked that his dad played to so he started it to.I liked the book because it was about the instruments.

[Jbondandrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great little book.

[Nikki in Niagara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reason for Reading: Biographies and memoirs are one of my favourite graphic genres.

A brief but rich look at the life of Louis Armstrong, mostly referred to as "Satchmo" throughout. Told from his own point of view as he tells his story from his hospital bed in the 1970s, Armstrong lived through a tumultuous era in America, especially for a black man. He had a tough life as a child spending a portion of his childhood in a home for black waifs and working to help support his mother. Though there are some references to the racial and political problems Louis experienced the book focuses mostly on his music and his career on stage and screen. He is presented as a happy man with a positive outlook and attitude. By the end of the book I was humming "It's a Wonderful World" and was pleased to have learned a bit about this man whom I had previously known nothing but his music.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

From his hospital bed, Louis Armstrong looks back on his life growing up poor in New Orleans, being drawn to music, and being arrested when he was young. His distinctive voice and musical ability brought him worldwide fame, and readers will learn quite a lot about the man behind the notes in this graphic version of his life's story. His story is inspiring even while readers learn very little about his family, and it's worth pointing out that he loved performing that he played music right up until he died. Including some of his lyrics will help readers who are new to his music find it, but the short references to his involvement in the civil rights movement seemed tacked on the story and lacked context.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unexpectedly very good, given that it is a slender paperback original. Loads of quotes from Armstrong. Illustrations done in a loose, rough pastel or pencil in a cool palette of blues and greens.