[78-L] Lil and Louis

[Randy Watts]

In Armstrong's radio and TV appearances, you will hear his name pronounced both "Lew-ee" and "Lew-is," though the former appears to have been much more common. Seems that in recent years, though, I usually hear "Lew-is" when his name is mentioned in the media. 
The Louis Armstrong House Museum, in New York, notes on their website that on home-recorded tapes, Armstrong pronounces his own name "Lew-is." They point out, though, that his widow used "Lew-ee" in a 1983 videotaped interview.
Randy  
       From: Antony Pepper <78-l at antonypepper.com.invalid>
 To: 78-l at klickitat.78online.com 
 Sent: Friday, January 30, 2015 3:45 PM
 Subject: Re: [78-L] Lil and Louis
   


Hi,

>Listening to an old interview with Lil Hardin Armstrong
>http://stomp-off.blogspot.se/2010/08/lil-armstrong-interview-1-of-2.html
>
>...and both the interviewer and Lil talk about "Louie". Not a trace of 
>"LouiS".
>So, what is the correct pronunciation of Mr Armstrong's first name?

Tight Like This - "Oh, it's tight like that, Louie", Dec. 1928.
The Lonesome Road - "There, smoking a Louie Armstrong special cigar",
Nov. 1931.

I reckon - regardless of what his familial name might or might not
have been - that "Louie" Armstrong was his stage or professional name
from early on to quite late, and covers the 78 era.

Speak of records by Edward Ellington, Salvatore Massaro, Arthur
Arshawsky, anyone?

Best,
Antony