The Private Side of a Public Life

Louis Armstrong’s music is recorded and played all over the world. But what he recorded when he wasn’t performing—his life with friends and family—is a unique legacy now being preserved.

One of the jazz musician’s pastimes was capturing the moment, using a reel-to-reel tape machine that traveled with him, collecting conversation and music. The result is a collection of 650 reel tapes that provide candid glimpses into Armstrong’s earthy off-stage life.

Michael Cogswell, director of the Louis Armstrong House and Archives, describes the tapes as candid, spoken-word recordings of moments such as “Louis and the guys sitting around the dressing room. They’re very precious. He was a very public person and got a lot of press, but this is a side of him that maybe hasn’t been seen.”

The 7 inch reels are being copied onto 10 inch reels for preservation, and cassette tapes are being made for public access in the Archives reading room. The project received $120,000 in pledges during a visit by First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton. Heritage Preservation made the initial contact, linking the Louis Armstrong project with the new Save America’s Treasures program, which resulted in the First Lady’s visit. “I’m extremely grateful for the participation of Heritage Preservation in our recent grants from the Save America’s Treasures program,” Cogswell said.

The funds are being used to hire an audio engineer to copy the tapes, a painstaking process. According to Cogswell, splices that have dried out must be repaired, and someone has to make sure the tape is riding correctly on the playback deck. He estimates it takes three to four hours of staff time for every hour of tape copied.

The process will probably take another two years, Cogswell says, and represents the Archives’ “most pressing preservation project.” Another $300,000 grant has been received for repairing and preserving the Louis Armstrong house in Queens.

Armstrong cataloged only a few of the tapes by subject and did not identify the speakers or settings, though these can sometimes be deduced. He recorded everything from swapping jokes and stories with Stepin Fetchit in a hotel bar to playing the trumpet along with a recording of his younger self. Though Armstrong’s life is well-documented—including an autobiography and at least seven biographies—the tapes add a deeper dimension.

For more information about Louis Armstrong and audio excerpts from the tapes, visit www.satchmo.net.

Photo credit: Louis Armstrong House and Archives