In honor of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, it seems appropriate to remember the Jewish family that helped Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong, one of America’s most famous and influential jazz musicians, get his first instrument—and begin his musical journey.
According to Jewish Journal, via Catherine Salgado (h/t Nita) Louis Armstrong was born into a part of New Orleans in 1901 that was so violent it was nicknamed “The Battlefield.” Armstrong’s mother was only 16 years’ old and his father ended up abandoning his family. Amidst this abandonment and poverty, young Louis turned to a family of Lithuanian Jews.
The Karnofskys were financially poor but a loving family towards Armstrong. They provided a bed, food and shelter, and even included him in their Shabbat dinners. He was paid a salary for helping the father with his horse-and-wagon hauling business delivering coal.
Each day as they passed a particular store, Armstrong pointed to an old cornet in the window, a cornet he couldn’t hope to buy but longed to play. One day, Mr. Karnofsky stopped at the store, walked in and came out with the cornet.
With the $2 advancement from the Karnofskys to start him off on the $5 cornet, Armstrong was on his way to becoming a great musician! “Boy was I a Happy Kid,” Armstrong recalled, per STL Jewish Light.
Reader says
And don’t forget about how a Jewish waiter taught the late actor Sidney Poitier how to read.
Az gal says
A beautiful story, not well known.
jarmanray says
I am old enough to have had the opportunity to watch Satchmo on Ed Sullivan and a number of other television shows back in the fifties and sixties and in the movie about Red Nichols.
When I was in the recruit in the Army at Ft. Lewis, my car needed a part and the owner of the bungalow who was Jewish and he took me half way across New Jersey to friend of his who had the part I required. I had always had a great deal of respect for the Jewish people but this Jewish man also showed me another side of the people in New Jersey.
Richard S says
A Jewish man mentored me in the real estate appraisal business when others would not. Without him I would not be in this business and be very poor. He has now passed away and my debt to him can never be repaid for the success he brought me.
BareNakedIslam says
The multi-million dollar George Soros-funded anti-Semitism movement to turn the world against Israel, (and America, too) by paying a lot of money to leftists to protest along with Muslims is very scary. And despite his advanced age (’90s), he has four sons who are carrying on his evil agenda.
Richard S says
George Soros should be in jail for his war crimes
BareNakedIslam says
And his sons.
ME Infidel says
A little side anecdote that most people don’t know about B. B. King: His agent of 32 years was Sid Seidenberg who was Jewish. He also managed Gladys Knight and the Pips as well as others. Of course, to no one’s surprise at BNI, the Quran and Sunna forbid most music and singing. Fledgling jihadis in training shouldn’t be distracted from their true calling of murdering Jews and Christians.
Easterndmondbk says
You outdo yourself, BNI.
Bravo!
Moc
https://twitter.com/The_Moccasin_/status/1751585647653986608
BareNakedIslam says
I had never heard this story until now. Mr BNI knew all about it however.
Easterndmondbk says
Thank you, Mr. BNI! I love his music, so this bit of history meant quite a bit to me.
canuckguynbgmailcom says
I had only heard about that a year ago. A great story.