Satchmo: The Wonderful World and Art of Louis Armstrong

About the book

Satchmo: The Wonderful World and Art of Louis Armstrong is a biography in the form of an art book. It tells the story of Armstrong's life through his writings, scrapbooks, and artworks, many of which have never been published before. Armstrong was the single greatest creative artist in the history of jazz and the American popular song. A true American original, he was prolific in coining colorful expressions that entered the lexicon; he wrote long, colorful prose pieces about his experiences; and he made hundreds of collages using marvelous photographs that capture archetypal scenes in the life of a jazz musician. Everything he did was an extension of his artistry.

Satchmo is a vivid trip through American jazz at mid-century, to the beat of Armstrong's own jazzy words. The book also includes photographs of Armstrong and is framed by a text that describes his significance. It will be enjoyed not only by jazz fans but also by art lovers, who will welcome Armstrong into the pantheon of American visual artists.

About the author

Steven Brower is a seasoned writer and designer, and creator of the award-winning book Woody Guthrie Artworks. He currently teaches design at the School of Visual Arts in New York City and Kean University in Union, New Jersey. Hilton Als is a staff writer for the New Yorker. He is the author of The Women, and was the recipient of the George Jean Nathan Award for Dramatic Criticism in 2002-03.