New York City grants $1.9 to the Louis Armstrong Museum
We all would want to be remembered for one thing or another when we eventually close the doors of our lives on earth. but how many of us would be remembered as inventors or for being a being that had a very big impact at a certain field? Life has so much to offer and when we look at it in a positive way, we can actually get to our dreams, just like “Satchmo” did.
Widely known as “Ambassador Satch” or “Satchmo”, Louis Armstrong is one of the most important and influential musician in Jazz Music History. With a loving personality, he’s remembered as a singer who played simple but dramatic trumpet. Although he never boasted about his success, Armstrong was seen as one of the artists that invented Jazz Music
After many years of constant touring, achievements of great popularity on radio, in films, and with his recordings, Armstrong had a well – lived life that had him sing and play until his last breath when he passed in 1971.
His home in Corona, Queens was later declared a National Historic Landmark in 1976 and in 2003, it was made a museum named as the Louis Armstrong Museum.
The museum comprises of items relating to “Satchmo”. The collections range from recordings, photographs, letters, linear feet of papers, home recorded reel-to-reel tapes, scrapbooks, trumpets and much more.
The latest news that brings more life to this Museum is that the New York City granted it an additional sum of $1.9 million for renovation. It had previously funded the project with $1 million as donation. The funds will also be used to expand its campus to a nearby building, known as Selma House (was owned by Selma Heraldo). The Museum is a representation of Armstrong’s identity and personality, not only in the Jazz Music world.
Seen as a community project, the Museum will set aside a sum of the grant money to add up more offices and storage space in Selma’s House. Plans on renovating the kitchen area for catering, to offer food services at concerts and other events at the museum are also on set.
With the renovations that are expected to take place, one of the most important factors that will be considered is to ensure that the building remains to possess its historic nature. This is also in regards to Selma Heraldo’s wish, a long-time family friend and neighbor to Armstrong.
Herald who became became a fixture of the museum’s projects, often kept telling visitors about her famous neighbors, who arrived in 1943. She left her own home to the Armstrong’s upon her death in 2011, and with clear instructions, she said that she would love to have the Museum renovated but to be kept with its’s original look.
Individuals who’ve been to this particular museum have had a taste and feel of the history of Jazz Music. It is with great memory that we can be able to visit the Museum and have a feel of one of the earliest soloists on record. A feel of what the changing of jazz music from ensemble-oriented folk music into art form was.