30 Powerful Louis Armstrong Quotes About Jazz And Life

Luca Demetriou
Dec 12, 2023 By Luca Demetriou
Originally Published on Feb 26, 2021
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Smiling picture of Louis Armstrong

Louis Armstrong was an American musician, a renowned figure in jazz history.

Louis Armstrong lived from 4 August 1901 to 6 July 1971. He was given the nickname Satchmo (meaning "Satchel Mouth"), and his life story is about rags to riches.

Louis Armstrong was a world-famous eminent figure due to his contribution to jazz music. He loved jazz music and his trumpet so much that he always said that you will never know what jazz is if you ask what it is. His final onstage performance was 'Hello Dolly'.

He was the instigator to change jazz music from folk-oriented to art form. With every note he played, he defined it with expression and a beautiful story. His powerful playing style gave life to the trumpet itself.

Here we have shared the famous and unique quotes by Louis Armstrong to give you a taste of life and music and how music can change your life and motivate you to live.

If you enjoyed reading our quotes from Louis Armstrong, why not look at Thelonious Monk quotes and Billie Holiday quotes.

Jazz Quotes Louis Armstrong

A person in a white shirt playing a musical instrument tuba

Do you want to know how music can be the soul of your life? Here is a collection of the best music motivational quotes.

1."If you have to ask what jazz is, you'll never know."

- Louis Armstrong.

2. "All music is folk music. I ain't never heard a horse sing a song."

- Louis Armstrong.

3. "The memory of things gone is important to a jazz musician. Things like old folks singing in the moonlight in the back yard on a hot night or something said long ago."

- Louis Armstrong.

4. "Musicians don' t retire; they stop when there's no more music in them."

- Louis Armstrong.

5. "Music is life itself. What would this world be without good music? No matter what kind it is."

- Louis Armstrong.

6. "There's only two ways to sum up music; either it's good or it's bad. If it's good you don't mess about it, you just enjoy it."

- Louis Armstrong.

7. "You've got to be good or as bad as the devil. When you're dead, you're done."

- Louis Armstrong.

8. "My life has always been my music, it's always come first, but the music ain't worth nothing if you can't lay it on the public. The main thing is to live for that audience, 'cause what you're there for is to please the people."

- Louis Armstrong.

9. "I warm up at home. I hit the stage, I'm ready, whether it's rehearsal or anything."

- Louis Armstrong.

10. "Each man has his own music bubbling up inside him."

- Louis Armstrong.

11. "All them weird chords which don't mean a thing...you got no melody to remember, and no beat to dance to."

- Louis Armstrong.

Louis Armstrong Quotes About Life

Learn the importance of music, love, life, and respect. Here we have shared the best Louis Armstrong quotes and quotes on how music can influence your life.

12. "My whole life, my whole soul, my whole spirit is to blow that horn..."

- Louis Armstrong.

13. "What we play is life. Seems to me it ain't the world that's so bad but what we're doing to it, and all I'm saying is: see what a wonderful world it would be if only we'd give it a chance. Love, baby - love. That's the secret."

- Louis Armstrong.

14. "Every time I close my eyes blowing that trumpet of mine, I look right into the heart of good old New Orleans. It has given me something to live for."

- Louis Armstrong.

15. "Don't do nothing halfway, else you find yourself dropping more than can be picked up."

- Louis Armstrong.

16. "I was determined to play my horn against all odds, and I had to sacrifice a whole lot of pleasure to do so."

- Louis Armstrong.

17. "Even if I have two three days off, you still have to blow that horn. You have to keep up those chops... I have to warm up everyday for at least an hour."

- Louis Armstrong.

18. "I saw the Pope too, you know. And he's a fine little fella, you know. He was tickled to death to know that the Italian people enjoyed our music and he could speak on any subject, in all kind of languages, you know."

- Louis Armstrong.

19. "I see trees of green, red roses too. I see them bloom for me and you. And I think to myself what a wonderful world."

- Louis Armstrong.

Louis Armstrong Respect Quotes

Louis Armstrong was a true role model, his quotes will give you endless inspiration. Read the Louis Armstrong famous quotes listed below.

20. "I got a simple rule about everybody. If you don't treat me right - shame on you."

- Louis Armstrong.

21. "There is no such thing as 'on the way out' as long as you are still doing something interesting and good; you're in the business because you're breathing."

- Louis Armstrong.

22. "There are some people that if they don't know, you can't tell them."

- Louis Armstrong.

23. "When I play, maybe 'Back o' Town Blues,' I'm thinking about one of the old, low-down moments - when maybe your woman didn't treat you right. That's a hell of a moment when a woman tell you, 'I got another mule in my stall'."

- Louis Armstrong.

24. "What do I want to get famous for? What do I care about famous? The public does that. That ain't me man. I just blow."

25. "I don't care who I'm playing for or where I'm playing. My mind never leaves that tailgate."

- Louis Armstrong.

26. "I never want to be anything more than I am; what I don't have, I don't need."

- Louis Armstrong.

27. "The first time I left New Orleans I went to St Louis with Fate's band on the boat and to my surprise – we were the first colored band to play with the Streckfus Steamers."

- Louis Armstrong.

28. "I was at a little Italian trumpet player's house, and his mother was a Countess, well they was makin' that spaghetti and we was wailin', you know."

- Louis Armstrong.

29. "Making money ain't nothing exciting to me. You might be able to buy a little better booze than the wino on the corner. But you get sick just like the next cat and when you die you're just as graveyard dead as he is."

- Louis Armstrong.

30. "At first it was just a misdemeanor, but then you lost the "mis-de" and you just got meaner and meaner."

- Louis Armstrong.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly quotes for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for '30 Powerful Louis Armstrong quotes about jazz and life', then why not take a look at jazz quotes or Nina Simone quotes.

Main Image Editorial credit: spatuletail / Shutterstock.com

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Written by Luca Demetriou

Bachelor of Arts specializing in English and Drama, Master of Arts specializing in Performance: Design and Practice

Luca Demetriou picture

Luca DemetriouBachelor of Arts specializing in English and Drama, Master of Arts specializing in Performance: Design and Practice

Experienced in writing and sub-editing, Luca holds a Bachelor's in English Literature and Drama from the University of Birmingham, where he served as the culture editor at Redbrick Paper. He is currently pursuing a Master's in Performance: Design and Practice at the University of the Arts in London, showcasing his passion for the arts, performance, and history. With a keen interest in traveling, Luca enjoys exploring new cultures and experiencing diverse perspectives.

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