Lil Armstrong

Lil Hardin Armstrong will always be best known for her influence in shaping <a href="spotify:artist:19eLuQmk9aCobbVDHc6eek">Louis Armstrong</a>'s career (persuading him to leave King Oliver's band and accept Fletcher Henderson's offer in New York) and for her work with <a href="spotify:artist:19eLuQmk9aCobbVDHc6eek">Louis</a>' <a href="spotify:artist:19eLuQmk9aCobbVDHc6eek">Hot Five</a> and Seven, but she actually had an interesting career after she parted with Armstrong. Early on she worked in Chicago demonstrating new songs at a music store. She worked with Sugar Johnny's Creole Orchestra and then <a href="spotify:artist:0y247K7t0JULOQuGx17ZFJ">Freddie Keppard's Original Creole Orchestra</a> before becoming a member of <a href="spotify:artist:08Zk65toyJllap1MnzljxZ">King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band</a>. Lil Armstrong's rhythmic piano helped keep the ensembles solid and she made her recording debut with <a href="spotify:artist:24PJRbYtu3Cq5CuF24c1QZ">Oliver</a> in 1923. She met <a href="spotify:artist:19eLuQmk9aCobbVDHc6eek">Louis Armstrong</a> while in the band and their marriage lasted from 1924-1938, although they separated in 1931. Lil played piano and occasionally sang on <a href="spotify:artist:19eLuQmk9aCobbVDHc6eek">Louis</a>' famous <a href="spotify:artist:19eLuQmk9aCobbVDHc6eek">Hot Five</a> and Seven recordings, and she composed "Struttin' with Some Barbecue." During the latter half of the 1930s she was house pianist at Decca, recording 26 titles as a leader (mostly as a vocalist) during 1936-1940, including her "Just For a Thrill." Although she rarely recorded during the remainder of her career (12 titles during 1945-1947, six songs in 1953-1954, two selections in 1959, and an album in 1961), Lil Armstrong remained active during her last 30 years in Chicago. She recorded a talking record in 1959 on which she reminisced about her days with <a href="spotify:artist:19eLuQmk9aCobbVDHc6eek">Louis Armstrong</a>, and ironically she died of a heart attack while playing "St. Louis Blues" at an Armstrong tribute concert less than two months after <a href="spotify:artist:19eLuQmk9aCobbVDHc6eek">Louis</a> himself had passed away. ~ Scott Yanow, Rovi