Lil Hardin Armstrong
Photo: Frank Driggs Collection
Source: Riverwalk Jazz
Born on 3 February 1898 in Memphis, pianist and vocalist, Lil Hardin Armstrong got a job demonstrating sheet music at a Chicago music shop in 1918, she age twenty. Three weeks later she was asked to join the New Orleans Creole Jazz Band. Before long the band was able to book the Dreamland, Chicago's most prestigious nightclub. Eventually Joe King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band replaced the New Orleans Creole Jazz Band and Hardin was invited to stay. King Oliver soon after asked Louis Armstrong to join his band (1922), which is how Lil and Louis came to marry on February 1924. Hardin's first recordings were likewise Armstrong's first, with King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band in Richmond, Indiana on April 5, 1923 [Lord]. Per "Chimes Blues' below, Alexander, Lord and Michael Minn have that recorded on 5 April. Discogs and Vic Hobson prefer 6 April for the same matrix and issue with RYM leaving a window of 5-6 April.
'Just Gone' Lil Hardin Armstrong (piano) w King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band
Recorded 5 April 1923 in Richmond IN Matrix 11383-B Gennett 5133
1st recording to issue for all
Cornet: King Oliver / Louis Armstrong Trombone: Honore Dutrey
Clarinet: Johnny Dodds Banjo: Bud Scott Drums: Baby Dodds
Composition: King Oliver / Bill Johnson
'Chimes Blues' Lil Hardin Armstrong (piano) w King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band
Recorded 5 (6?) April 1923 in Richmond IN Matrix 111387-A Gennett 5135
Cornet: King Oliver / Louis Armstrong Trombone: Honore Dutrey
Clarinet: Johnny Dodds Banjo: Bud Scott Drums: Baby Dodds
Composition: King Oliver
Oliver's Creole Jazz Band splintered in early 1924 due to an unfriendly fallout between Oliver and the Dodds brothers. Married to Louis on 5 February of 1924, Lil and Louis left on tour with Oliver while the Dodds remained in Chicago. There no dispute between the Armstrongs and the Dodds, they would be working together again in 1925. From 1925 into 1927 Lil was a member of Louis's Hot Five and Hot Seven. Among titles she composed for the Hot Five were 'I'm Not Rough', 'Knee Drops' and 'Struttin' with Some Barbecue', all issued in 1928, the year she was replaced by Earl Hines. In the meantime she had begun to form her own ensembles such as her Hot Shots in 1926. Tom Lord's jazzography has Lil's first unissued session as a leader with her Serenaders for Vocalion on April 20, 1926, for 'After I Say I'm Sorry' and 'Georgia Bo Bo'. Her initial issued session was with her Hot Shots on May 28 of 1926 for 'Georgia Bo Bo' / 'Drop That Sack' (Vocalion 1037).
'Gut Bucket Blues' Lil Hardin Armstrong (piano) w Louis Armstrong's Hot Five
Recorded 12 Nov 1925 in Chicago Matrix 111387-A Gennett 5135
Cornet: Louis Armstrong Trombone: Kid Ory
Clarinet: Johnny Dodds Banjo: Johnny St. Cyr
Composition: Louis Armstrong
'Georgia Bo Bo' Lil Hardin Armstrong (piano) & Her Hot Shots
Recorded 28 May 1926 in Richmond IN Vocalion 1037
Lil's first recording to Issue as leader
Cornet: Louis Armstrong Trombone: Kid Ory
Clarinet: Johnny Dodds Banjo: Johnny St. Cyr
Music: Fats Waller Lyrics: Jo Trent
Hardin graduated from the Chicago College of Music in 1928. She and Louis separated in 1931, then divorced. During the thirties she lead an orchestra for NBC Radio in addition to other operations like her Swing Band. Stage and film star, Avon Long, contributed to the composition of multiple titles by Lil such as 'Brown Gal', 'Lindy Hop' and 'Bad Boy'. Titles below come with a couple discrepancies. warholsoup100 follows Alexander's session date for 'You Shall Reap What You Sow'. Other discographies prefer 2 February 1938 for the same matrix and issue (DAHR, Discogs, Lord, ODP). The correct session date for 'Safely Locked Up in My Heart' in all discographies is 9 September 1938, not as in the video.
'Brown Gal' Lillian Armstrong (vocal) & Her Swing Band
Recorded 27 Oct 1936 in Chicago Matrix 90969-A Decca 1092
Trumpet: Joe Thomas Clarinet: Buster Bailey Tenor sax: Chu Berry
Piano: Teddy Cole Guitar: Huey Long Bass: John Frazier
Composition: Lil Armstrong / Avon Long
'Doin' the Suzie Q' Lillian Armstrong (vocal) & Her Swing Band
Recorded 27 Oct 1936 in Chicago Matrix 90970-A Decca 1095
Trumpet: Joe Thomas Clarinet: Buster Bailey Tenor sax: Chu Berry
Piano: Teddy Cole Guitar: Huey Long Bass: John Frazier
Composition: Lil Armstrong
'Bluer Than Blue' Lillian Armstrong (vocal) & Her Swing Band
Recorded 15 April 1937 in NYC Matrix 90970-A Decca 1299 / MCA2-4064
Trumpet: Joe Thomas Clarinet: Buster Bailey Tenor sax: Robert Carroll
Piano: James Sherman Guitar: Arnold Adams
Bass: Wellman Braud Drums: Pops Foster
Composition: Lil Armstrong / Avon Long
'Lindy Hop' Lillian Armstrong (vocal) & Her Swing Band
Recorded 23 July 1937 in NYC Matrix 62442-A Decca 1388
Trumpet: Shirley Clay Clarinet: Buster Bailey Tenor sax: Prince Robinson
Piano: James Sherman Guitar: Arnold Adams
Bass: Wellman Braud Drums: Manzie Johnson
Composition: Lil Armstrong / Avon Long
'Let's Get Happy Together' Lillian Armstrong (vocal) & Her Swing Band
Recorded 2 Feb 1938 in NYC Matrix 63236-A Decca 1904 / Swingfan 1014
Trumpet: Ralph Muzzillo / Johnny McGhee Trombone: Al Philburn
Clarinet: Tony Zimmers Piano: Frank Froeba Guitar: Dave Barbour
Bass: Haig Stephens Drums: Sam Weiss
Composition: Lil Armstrong
'You Shall Reap What You Sow' Lillian Armstrong (vocal) & Her Swing Band
Recorded 2 Feb 1938 in NYC Matrix 63238-A Decca 1722 / Swingfan 1014
Trumpet: Ralph Muzzillo / Johnny McGhee Trombone: Al Philburn
Clarinet: Tony Zimmers Piano: Frank Froeba Guitar: Dave Barbour
Bass: Haig Stephens Drums: Sam Weiss
Composition: Alexander Robinson
'Safely Locked Up in My Heart' Lillian Armstrong (vocal) & Her Orchestra
Recorded 9 Sep 1938 in NYC Decca 2234
Trumpet: Reunald Jones Trombone: J.C. Higginbotham
Clarinet: Buster Bailey Piano: Lil Armstrong
Bass: Wellman Braud Drums: O'Neil Spencer
Composition: Lil Armstrong / Avon Long
'Riffin' the Blues' Lillian Armstrong (vocal) & Her Dixielanders
Recorded 18 March 1940 in NYC Decca 7803
Trumpet: Jonah Jones Alto sax: Don Stovall
Tenor sax: Russell Johns Piano: Lil Armstrong
Bass: Wellman Braud Drums: Manzie Johnson
Vocals: Midge Williams / Hilda Rogers
Composition: Fitzpatrick
Excerpts from 'Chicago and All That Jazz' Lillian Armstrong (piano / vocal) NBC Television
Recorded 30 & 31 Oct 1961 in NYC LP: Sounds Great SG8007 1985
'The Pearls' from 'Chicago and All That Jazz' Lillian Armstrong (piano) NBC Television
Recorded 30 or 31 Oct 1961 in NYC LP: Sounds Great SG8007 1985
Drums: Mae Barnes Composition: Jelly Roll Morton
Though Hardin led an active career her second love was tailoring, having made a tuxedo for Louis in the latter forties, then shirts for friends. She died in August 1971 (one month after Louis in July), collapsing at her piano at a televised concert performance.
Sources & References for Lil Hardin Armstrong:
Jone Johnson Lewis (ThoughtCo)
Dave Radlauer (Jazz Rhythm)
VF History (notes)
Scott Yanow (All Music)
Compositions:
Interviews: Riverwalk Jazz
Recordings: Albums:
Chicago And All That Jazz / Sounds Great SG8007 / 1985
Chicago - The Living Legends: Lil Hardin Armstrong and Her Orchestra / Riverside RLP401 / 1961:
Recordings: Catalogs:
Recordings: Compilations:
Chronological Classics 1936-1940 / Classics 564 / 1991):
Lil Hardin: 1936 A Memorial 1940 / Swingfan 1014)
Recordings: Sessions:
Scott Alexander (Red Hot Jazz)
DAHR (1923-1941)
Tom Lord: leading 21 of 90 sessions 1923-1968
Further Reading:
Chris Albertson (bio)
Margaret Moos Pick (bio)
Margaret Moos Pick (Lil and Louis)
Other Profiles: Video:
Authority Search: VIAF World Cat
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