February 4, 1924
Louie Armstrong & Lil Hardin

The Armstrongs

Today, we celebrate the union of Louis Armstrong and Lil Hardin, two prominent figures in jazz history.

They met in Chicago in 1922, when Louis Armstrong joined the King Oliver Creole Jazz Band. It was not love at first sight for Hardin, who played the piano for the band.

She thought Armstrong, who moved to the Windy City from New Orleans, looked out of style so Hardin helped him change his clothing and hairstyle. Sometime during the makeover, a romance developed and they were married in 1924.

Recognizing his great natural talent as a trumpeter, Hardin encouraged Armstrong to go out on his own as musician. He did just that and became known as the world’s greatest trumpet player.

Although their marriage only lasted seven years, the two collaborated on several jazz compositions and were said to have a relationship of mutual admiration and inspiration.