Black History Month's Presentation of LOUIS ARMSTRONG and a Jewish Family

 Nadene Goldfoot                                            

                     This is a picture of young Louis Armstrong as I remember him more filled out.  

Teens of today probably never heard of Louis Armstrong.  Louis Armstrong was an internationally famous jazz trumpeter, bandleader, and singer known for songs like “What a Wonderful World,” “Hello, Dolly!,” ”Star Dust,” and “La Vie En Rose.”   Jazz musician Louis Armstrong, nicknamed “Satchmo” and “Ambassador Satch,” was an internationally famous jazz trumpeter, bandleader, and singer.  He had a deep gruff voice.  An all-star virtuoso, the New Orleans native came to prominence in the 1920s and influenced countless musicians with both his daring trumpet style and unique vocals. He is credited with helping to usher in the era of jazz big bands.The legendary musician died in 1971 at age 69 after years of contending with heart and kidney problems.

*Morris Karnofsky was born on this date in 1895.  He was a white-Jewish American tailor, coal and junk owner, and record store owner.

He was born in Lithuania. His family, Jewish immigrants, had roots in New Orleans, LA.  This was near Girod and Franklin Streets, a few blocks from where the family of Louis Armstrong lived. When Armstrong was seven, the Karnofskys brought him and other young Blacks to help with their growing coal and junk businesses.  When Karnofsky drove his family's wagon into Storyville to sell coal to the brothels, Louis Armstrong rode with him, blowing a little tin horn. At the time, Armstrong was just a kid from around the corner.

The Karnofsky's employed him and welcomed him into their home, often for supper. When he spotted a cornet in the window of Jake Fink's pawn shop next to the Eagle Saloon, they advanced him some pay to buy his first proper instrument.  Morris Karnofsky went on to open Morris Music, the first jazz record store in New Orleans, and when he was in town, Armstrong would stop by and see his childhood friend. Morris Karnofsky, mentor to Louis Armstrong, died on August 12, 1944.                            

Morris Karnofsky (and his family) is the Jewish man often cited for helping a young Louis Armstrong in New Orleans during the early 1900s, providing food, shelter, and the money for his first cornet. Armstrong later spoke Yiddish, loved Jewish music, and wore a Star of David in their honor.

•  The Karnofsky family, Lithuanian immigrants, took in 7-year-old Armstrong, giving him work on their junk wagon and treating him like family.    They saw a hungry child and took him into their life.  
•  Armstrong credited them with teaching him how to live with determination and often spoke of the kindness they showed him.
  
          1969 with Barbara Streisand making Hello Dolly
• Ever the entertainer, Armstrong became the first Black American to star in a Hollywood movie with 1936’s Pennies from Heaven. The legendary musician died in 1971 at age 69 after years of contending with heart and kidney problems.
  
  
  
•  Another significant Jewish figure in the music industry who managed Louis Armstrong later in his career was Joe Glaser, who helped found Associated Booking Corporation with him in the late 30s/early 40s.
• FULL NAME: Louis Daniel Armstrong
  BORN: August 4, 1901
  DIED: July 6, 1971
  BIRTHPLACE: New Orleans, Louisiana
  SPOUSES: Daisy Parker (c. 1918-1923), Lillian Hardin (1924-1938), Alpha Smith (1938-1942), and Lucille Wilson (1942-1971)
  CHILDREN: Clarence and Sharon
  ASTROLOGICAL SIGN: Leo
• I bet Dick Bogle had records of Armstrong.  

• Armstrong’s previous silence on racial issues changed in 1957, when the musician saw the Little Rock Central High School integration crisis on television. Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus sent in the National Guard to prevent the Little Rock Nine, a group of nine African American students, from entering the public school.

  When Armstrong saw this, as well as white protesters hurling invective at the students, he blew his top to the press, telling a reporter that President Dwight D. Eisenhower had “no guts” for letting Faubus run the country. “The way they are treating my people in the South, the government can go to hell,” Armstrong said.

  His words made front-page news around the world. Although he had finally spoken out after years of remaining publicly silent, he received criticism at the time from both Black and white public figures. People were not mentally ready.  

• Resource:
• https://aaregistry.org/story/morris-karnofsky-businessman-born/
• https://www.biography.com/musicians/louis-armstrong?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=mgu_ga_bio_md_pmx_hybd_mix_us_20739831539&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20743513357&gbraid=0AAAAApT