Celebrity System
Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong was a legendary American jazz trumpeter and singer. Born on August 4, 1901, in New Orleans, Louisiana, he went on to have a long and distinguished musical career.
Known affectionately as “Satchmo”, which was short for “Satchelmouth”, Armstrong was a foundational figure in jazz, transforming it from ensemble based music to a soloist’s art. His innovative solos and expressive vocals, including his skilful “scat” singing, left an indelible mark on the genre.
Armstrong’s career spanned five decades, during which he recorded numerous classics like “What a Wonderful World,” “Hello, Dolly!,” and “La Vie en Rose.” He collaborated with many greats, including Ella Fitzgerald, and appeared in several films. Beyond his musical achievements, Armstrong was a significant cultural figure, breaking racial barriers and becoming one of the first African-American entertainers to achieve widespread popularity with both black and white audiences.
Louis Armstrong’s Hi-Fi Systems
We have a few photos of Louis Armstrong alongside some excellent Hi-Fi equipment.
The first three photos shows the artist in an office with a Hi-Fi system comprising two Tandberg reel-to-reel recorders, a record changer, and Marantz tuner and amplifier. The first Tandberg appears to be just a transport, and the second Tandberg looks like a Model 12-41. The turntable appears to be a Dual 1019 changer with the long spindle for playing multiple records. The Marantz components look like a Model 7T preamplifier and a Model 10B tuner. This photo was likely taken in the early 1960s, and in the third photo you can see Louis’ wife Lucille checking his work!
Magnecord Tape Recorders
The fourth photo shows Louis along with three associates, working with a Magnecord PT-6 tape recorder. There’s a microphone sitting on the side table, and a Magnecord PT-6J microphone amplifier atop the recorder. Magnecord recorders were sold in the early 1950s.
Louis Armstrong in Seattle
The fifth photo is Louis in Seattle, playing some music on a couple of portable record players and tape recorders. Sorry, we weren’t able to identify any of the components in this photo.
Philips (Norelco) EL3516 Tape Recorders
The last photo has Louis clearly enjoying some music playing on a pair of Philips (Norelco) EL3516 tape recorders. The EL3516 was a 2-track, 3-speed recorder manufactured around 1957.
