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Viewers like you make
this program possible.
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Support your local PBS station.
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(SINGING) La-da-da, yes.
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Louis Armstrong was
born in New Orleans,
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the birthplace of jazz.
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From his southern roots to
music ambassador of the world,
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his influence is still with us.
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Unknown to the
public, he fathered
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one child in his life,
a daughter named Sharon.
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He called her his
Little Satchmo.
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This is her story.
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[cassette clicks]
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[on cassette tapeÑ: This
is Louis Satchmo Armstrong,
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getting ready to send a bit of
a letter to a fine young lady
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by the name of Miss
Sweets Preston.
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And I know Sharon's a good girl.
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She better be.
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You Sharon?
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Did you hear what I said?
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You better be a very good
girl, because the present
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that I have for you, I
won't give it to you.
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I mean, if you miss
one time being good,
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I ain't gonna give it to you.
[laughs]
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Tough daddy, tough man,
because I come up the hard way,
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and I ain't let you
get away with nothing.
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Of course, I shouldn't say that.
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But I'm just kidding, baby.
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My name is Sharon Preston-Folta,
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and I am Louis Armstrong's
daughter, his only child.
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I have waited my entire lifetime
to say that publicly out loud,
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because up until
this very moment,
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I wasn't allowed to admit to
anyone other than my closest
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family and friends that
the blood of a legend
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runs through my veins.
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[piano music]
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And now, the number
that became our theme song
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when it's sleepy
time down South.
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On June 24, 1955, Louis
Armstrong became a father.
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Lucille Preston
became a single mom.
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And I, Sharon Louis
Preston, became invisible.
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That's the way it was,
the way it had to be.
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[trumpet playing]
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Satchmo was married,
traveling in the rare air
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of upper white society,
the kind of Black man
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who put whites at
ease by defying
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racial attitudes of the time.
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Under that context, publicly
fawning over a child fathered
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with his mistress wasn't exactly
an option for Louis Armstrong.
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[trumpet playing]
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It's widely believed he was
childless when he died in 1971.
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There were even rumors
he was impotent.
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The truth is, he always
wanted to be a father.
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And I think he even
thought he was a good one.
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But we had to keep
it all secret.
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[gentle piano music]
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For more than 50
years, I swallowed
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that bitter secret whole.
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Some days it went down easy.
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Other days, I had
to choke it down.
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Every faded memory, every
hushed conversation,
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every missed moment
settling like rocks
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in the pit of my stomach.
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[jazz music playing]
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Armstrong's views and
knowledge of fatherhood
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were shaped by a
childhood without one.
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He rarely talked or wrote about
his own father, whom he once
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described as a sharp
man who, quote, "did not
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have time to teach me anything,
because he was too busy chasing
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00:04:09,130 --> 00:04:10,060
the chippies. "
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[jazz music playing]
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My father was raised by
his grandmother, Josephine
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Armstrong, in a rough New
Orleans neighborhood known
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as The Battlefield, a
place my father described
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as full of church people,
gamblers, hustlers,
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cheap pimps,
thieves, prostitutes,
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and lots of children.
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♪
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The city was such an amalgam
of cultures and influences,
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Louis, short, chubby,
barefoot, and charming,
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was a mischievous waif
who became the face of it.
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Music was everywhere.
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And he eventually followed
it up the Mississippi,
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playing for three years
with a riverboat dance
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band, which fully formed him
as a master at a young age.
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But without a father,
Louis was brought up
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with no male presence in his
life, no real example of how
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to lead a family or
be a man in the world.
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He adopted the attitude,
keep a wife and a stable
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of sweethearts to #####
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But always remember, the trumpet
is your one and only true love.
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[trumpet playing]
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Louis was married four times,
had countless one-nighters.
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And numerous women
enjoyed his largesse.
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One of his favorites had a
clandestine affair with him
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that stretched 20 years
across performances,
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tour dates, and continents.
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That woman is my mother,
Lucille "Sweets" Preston.
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[jazz music playing]
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She was a small-town
Harlem girl.
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She loved to dance.
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She would make up
routines in a room
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and pretend she was on one
of Harlem's chorus lines
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she'd seen up close.
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By 1940, she was working in
clubs in her native Harlem
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and on the road, where she met
Luther "Slim" Preston, a lanky,
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sky tall dancer with wiry
legs and mesmerizing rhythm.
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They called themselves
Slim and Sweets.
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They were loved and in love.
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They toured on the
Chitlin' Circuit,
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and under manager Joe
Glaser's care, opened
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for some of the greatest
performers of the day, Count
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Basie, Lionel Hampton,
Billie Holiday, the Nicholas
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Brothers, Coles and Atkins,
and of course, Louis Armstrong.
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[trumpet playing]
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My father adored
Slim and Sweets.
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My mother fell in
love with Louis
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while performing in
the same nightclubs.
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She never acted
on those feelings,
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however, because she
was married to Slim.
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My mother tells me that
she never really knew
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how much everyone loved
and respected Slim
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until he passed away in 1950.
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Family, friends, fellow
dancers, entertainers,
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and people in the industry
filled Slim and Sweets'
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apartment for the repast.
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Among them was Louis Armstrong.
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I am told that he
crossed the living room,
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took my mother's hand,
and boldly proclaimed,
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I'm supposed to
take care of you.
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He added, I'll be back tomorrow.
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Those fateful words
marked the beginning
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of my parents'
secret love affair
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of more than two decades.
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Mom opened herself
up to Louis's love.
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She fell hard.
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So, it seems, did Louis.
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[jazz music playing]
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♪
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♪
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[Louis Armstrong on tape]
Hello, Sweets.
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It's your baby.
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I'm sitting here all by myself.
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All the cats are
all gone to bed.
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Of course, they had a night out.
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But I had to work all
day long in the studio.
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The main thing I want to tell
you, I'm coming home soon.
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We got about three more
dates, and homeward bound.
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I sure would be glad to see
you and the little shiver.
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00:09:05,060 --> 00:09:07,930
How's my little
pregnant mother this AM?
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Hmm?
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I will do like the
farmer did the potato.
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I will plant you now
and dig you later.
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So be a sweet girl
for your daddy
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and don't worry about a thing.
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Yeah, this is the
letter written at 2:00
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in the morning, where he's
thinking about where they would
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be at 2:00 in the morning.
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Yeah, that's the
way I'll state it.
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So he's pretty descriptive.
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[gentle piano music]
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Her blind love and allegiance
had devastating consequences
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for Sweets, a woman who
was hopelessly, tragically
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in love with a man who she
never seemed to realize
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would never be her own.
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And here are photos of Mom,
the three of us, really.
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In this picture, Mom
is pregnant with me,
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sitting there with a
photo of Dad, me inside.
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00:10:02,930 --> 00:10:06,490
So it's the only photo where
I could say I'm actually
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in there with my parents.
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"Hmm, I hadn't
heard the good news
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concerning my little
Satchmo being on its way
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for two months.
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Wow.
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If you have a baby for me,
you must have no fear at all.
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The baby must have
my name right away.
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Oh, I'm so proud right now.
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I forgot to ask you,
would you marry me?
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Hmm.
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00:10:31,260 --> 00:10:32,430
Yes?
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00:10:32,460 --> 00:10:33,330
Yes?"
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[jazz music playing]
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She was in love with the most
famous Black man in the world
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and carrying his child.
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And he loved her back, but not
enough to claim her publicly,
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00:10:47,000 --> 00:10:50,490
not enough to tell the world
that he had a daughter,
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00:10:50,530 --> 00:10:53,760
and her name is Sharon Louise.
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Louise, after Louis.
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"You must remember, I've
never had a baby before.
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00:11:01,930 --> 00:11:06,000
P. S. , I never had a
baby before, you dig?
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00:11:06,030 --> 00:11:11,200
Now, don't say that I'm carried
away over it all, because I am.
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00:11:11,230 --> 00:11:12,400
Tee-hee.
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00:11:12,430 --> 00:11:15,530
With all my love
and more besides,
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00:11:15,560 --> 00:11:20,530
your future husband, Old
Satchmo, Louis Armstrong. "
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00:11:23,200 --> 00:11:26,130
My father made a lot of
promises to my mother.
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00:11:26,160 --> 00:11:30,130
She tucked them in her pockets,
in her dresser drawers,
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00:11:30,160 --> 00:11:36,160
in little boxes, in her heart,
in her mind, in her soul.
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00:11:36,200 --> 00:11:37,830
[MUSIC - LOUIS ARMSTRONG, "LAZY
RIVER"]
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(SINGING) Up the lazy river
where the old mill runs.
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00:11:43,300 --> 00:11:47,460
Whenever he was in town, he
was there with us, his family.
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00:11:47,490 --> 00:11:52,030
And in the summers, he took us
on tour with him as his family.
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00:11:52,060 --> 00:11:56,530
He was saving up for a house
to keep with us, his family.
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00:11:56,560 --> 00:11:59,760
And so my mom kept Louis
Armstrong's secret,
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00:11:59,800 --> 00:12:04,230
followed his very specific
instructions on how to lie low,
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00:12:04,260 --> 00:12:06,060
until the two of
them could go public.
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00:12:06,100 --> 00:12:08,630
[(SINGING "LAZY RIVER"])
♪ Throw away your troubles.
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00:12:08,660 --> 00:12:10,360
♪ Dream a dream of me.
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00:12:10,400 --> 00:12:13,360
♪ Dream a dream of me.
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00:12:13,400 --> 00:12:18,360
Sweets would travel far
and wide to meet Louis.
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00:12:18,400 --> 00:12:22,430
His valet, Doc Pugh,
served as a go-between,
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00:12:22,460 --> 00:12:24,760
channeling all
communications whenever
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00:12:24,800 --> 00:12:29,160
she needed money or just
wanted to get a letter to him.
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00:12:29,200 --> 00:12:32,200
[jazz music playing]
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00:12:33,100 --> 00:12:34,900
It was the music that deluded me
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00:12:34,930 --> 00:12:36,900
into thinking my father was
around more
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00:12:36,930 --> 00:12:40,360
than he actually was.
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00:12:40,400 --> 00:12:43,360
I can remember many times waking
up in the middle of the night
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00:12:43,400 --> 00:12:45,200
and hearing my
father's music playing
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00:12:45,230 --> 00:12:48,730
on the stereo downstairs.
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00:12:48,760 --> 00:12:52,300
I'd tiptoe down
the steps and peek
220
00:12:52,330 --> 00:12:57,590
into the darkened den, where my
mother would be sitting alone
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00:12:57,630 --> 00:13:03,330
with her glass of what we
called her Sherry Herring
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00:13:03,360 --> 00:13:05,430
and the sound of my
father's records.
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00:13:05,460 --> 00:13:08,900
[jazz music playing]
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00:13:11,490 --> 00:13:14,030
Sometimes, I heard her crying.
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00:13:14,060 --> 00:13:16,200
Other times, when
the record ended
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00:13:16,230 --> 00:13:19,030
and the needle crackled
against the wax,
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00:13:19,060 --> 00:13:20,400
the silence would take over.
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00:13:31,230 --> 00:13:32,460
It was deafening.
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00:13:35,430 --> 00:13:40,100
I'd turn around and go
back upstairs, pretending
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00:13:40,130 --> 00:13:41,830
I'd never heard a thing.
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00:13:41,860 --> 00:13:44,360
[jazz music playing]
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00:13:48,400 --> 00:13:52,330
I would see him on TV, in
a newspaper, or a magazine,
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00:13:52,360 --> 00:13:55,100
off carrying his duties
as a US ambassador.
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00:13:55,130 --> 00:13:56,400
Our ambassador of jazz.
235
00:13:56,430 --> 00:13:59,400
Louis Satchmo Armstrong,
whose golden trumpet
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00:13:59,430 --> 00:14:01,430
has preached the gospel
of New Orleans jazz
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00:14:01,460 --> 00:14:02,900
on every continent.
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00:14:02,930 --> 00:14:05,860
We clung to those
moments, every one of them,
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00:14:05,900 --> 00:14:07,400
grateful for what
we did have of him.
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00:14:07,430 --> 00:14:09,400
[MUSIC - "SUZY CUTE"]
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00:14:09,430 --> 00:14:11,230
(SINGING)
♪ Suzy plays, Suzy swings.
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00:14:11,260 --> 00:14:13,590
♪ And you can get her
all these things. ♪
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00:14:13,630 --> 00:14:16,260
♪ Little baby Suzy Cute.
244
00:14:16,300 --> 00:14:18,000
♪ Oh yes.
245
00:14:18,030 --> 00:14:22,530
♪ That's my baby, Suzy Cute.
246
00:14:22,560 --> 00:14:27,300
And this is some of
his creative artwork.
247
00:14:27,330 --> 00:14:28,830
And it's a collage.
248
00:14:28,860 --> 00:14:33,030
It's got my father's face in
here three times, Mom in here.
249
00:14:33,060 --> 00:14:36,130
But what struck me
was, at the bottom,
250
00:14:36,160 --> 00:14:41,030
he wrote in his
famous green pen ink
251
00:14:41,060 --> 00:14:46,130
signatures, family portrait.
252
00:14:46,160 --> 00:14:49,300
Girls, Suzy Cute needs a mummy.
253
00:14:49,330 --> 00:14:51,590
Suzy Cute needs you.
254
00:14:54,360 --> 00:14:57,260
Louis adored the
idea of being a daddy.
255
00:14:57,300 --> 00:15:00,230
He dangled that elation
and that divorce
256
00:15:00,260 --> 00:15:02,900
talk in front of Sweets'
face like a carrot.
257
00:15:02,930 --> 00:15:06,360
And she bit, because
she adored him.
258
00:15:06,400 --> 00:15:08,660
She fell hard for
the sweet talker
259
00:15:08,690 --> 00:15:12,060
with the horn and
that Louisiana charm.
260
00:15:12,100 --> 00:15:14,830
A sweet talker, he
most certainly was.
261
00:15:14,860 --> 00:15:16,770
[Louis Armstrong on tape] But I
want to know how you're feeling.
262
00:15:16,800 --> 00:15:22,330
And quite naturally, I'm sure
you're otherwise doing all right.
263
00:15:22,360 --> 00:15:23,900
My man's taking care everything.
264
00:15:23,930 --> 00:15:28,130
And wish you all the happiness.
265
00:15:28,160 --> 00:15:30,130
And I know Sharon's a good girl.
266
00:15:32,530 --> 00:15:35,530
[gently piano music]
267
00:15:36,530 --> 00:15:41,400
It's the car I remember, that
long, black, shiny limousine
268
00:15:41,430 --> 00:15:45,730
floating down the street,
chin in my tiny hand,
269
00:15:45,760 --> 00:15:48,360
face sometimes
pressed to the window,
270
00:15:48,400 --> 00:15:51,730
sometimes aimed at whatever show
happened to be on my uncle's
271
00:15:51,760 --> 00:15:54,830
black and white television set.
272
00:15:54,860 --> 00:15:57,900
I'd imagine that somewhere in
the back of that big old car,
273
00:15:57,930 --> 00:16:02,730
my father sat, dressed in his
elegant suit and fine shoes,
274
00:16:02,760 --> 00:16:06,330
his horn never far
away, waiting to fold
275
00:16:06,360 --> 00:16:14,300
mother and me into his massive
arms, excited to see us, happy.
276
00:16:14,330 --> 00:16:20,530
When we knew he was on
his way, it was magic.
277
00:16:20,560 --> 00:16:22,360
My mother would
start preparations
278
00:16:22,400 --> 00:16:25,130
from almost the second the
phone handset connected
279
00:16:25,160 --> 00:16:27,030
with its cradle.
280
00:16:27,060 --> 00:16:28,830
My father would
call or write her
281
00:16:28,860 --> 00:16:31,060
with the details
of his schedules
282
00:16:31,100 --> 00:16:33,300
the clubs where
he'd be performing,
283
00:16:33,330 --> 00:16:38,100
how long he'd be in town,
when he'd be able to visit us.
284
00:16:38,130 --> 00:16:40,900
And she'd head straight to
Macy's, John Wanamaker's,
285
00:16:40,930 --> 00:16:45,360
or Gimbels, to round up a
new, colorful, fancy pinafore,
286
00:16:45,400 --> 00:16:49,490
lace ankle socks, and shiny
patent leather Mary Jane shoes
287
00:16:49,530 --> 00:16:51,730
just for me.
288
00:16:51,760 --> 00:16:53,630
The night before
his arrival would
289
00:16:53,660 --> 00:16:56,860
be spent in the kitchen,
squatting between my mother's
290
00:16:56,900 --> 00:17:01,030
knees as she pulled the hot
comb and wads of DAX grease
291
00:17:01,060 --> 00:17:03,690
through my thick curls.
292
00:17:03,730 --> 00:17:07,900
I looked pretty, elegant.
293
00:17:07,930 --> 00:17:10,960
My mother made sure of it.
294
00:17:11,000 --> 00:17:16,030
I was, after all, Louis
Armstrong's daughter,
295
00:17:16,060 --> 00:17:17,260
his Little Satchmo.
296
00:17:17,300 --> 00:17:19,360
[MUSIC - "I WANT A LITTLE GIRL"]
297
00:17:19,400 --> 00:17:23,760
(SINGING) ♪ I want a
little girl to love a lot. ♪
298
00:17:23,800 --> 00:17:25,560
♪ I'd give anything.
299
00:17:25,590 --> 00:17:28,330
And then came the waiting.
300
00:17:28,360 --> 00:17:30,860
[ticking]
301
00:17:33,830 --> 00:17:36,960
My mother, always by the
window or the telephone,
302
00:17:37,000 --> 00:17:39,960
alternately looking for the
car and listening for the phone
303
00:17:40,000 --> 00:17:44,400
call that would alert her to
my father's exact arrival.
304
00:17:44,430 --> 00:17:48,690
[MUSIC - "I WANT A LITTLE GIRL"]
305
00:17:48,730 --> 00:17:51,260
(SINGING) ♪ I want
a little girl. ♪
306
00:17:51,300 --> 00:17:55,330
And it absolutely delighted
me to fall into his embrace
307
00:17:55,360 --> 00:17:59,300
and feel his lips on my
cheek and smell his scent.
308
00:17:59,330 --> 00:18:03,460
He'd take a firm look at me
and smile that 1,000-watt smile
309
00:18:03,490 --> 00:18:07,590
and hand me a sock full of coins
he'd saved up just for me while
310
00:18:07,630 --> 00:18:09,830
he toured.
311
00:18:09,860 --> 00:18:13,130
That feeling, that closeness
I felt to my father,
312
00:18:13,160 --> 00:18:15,860
would be fleeting,
would last about
313
00:18:15,900 --> 00:18:18,590
as long as it took for
him to pull away from me,
314
00:18:18,630 --> 00:18:21,130
then take my mother by
the hand and lead her
315
00:18:21,160 --> 00:18:23,200
into the bedroom,
where they would
316
00:18:23,230 --> 00:18:26,960
stay secluded for the
remainder of his short visits.
317
00:18:29,930 --> 00:18:32,060
And then I would plop
down on the floor
318
00:18:32,100 --> 00:18:34,900
and dump out all the
coins and run my fingers
319
00:18:34,930 --> 00:18:37,030
across the pennies
and the nickels
320
00:18:37,060 --> 00:18:39,660
and the occasional coin
from some distant land
321
00:18:39,690 --> 00:18:42,330
my father had traveled
to, completely
322
00:18:42,360 --> 00:18:45,760
unaware of how much money
I'd poured onto the floor,
323
00:18:45,800 --> 00:18:49,760
but excited and grateful anyway,
because my daddy had bought
324
00:18:49,800 --> 00:18:52,400
them special, just for me.
325
00:18:55,560 --> 00:18:57,960
"Give Sharon a big kiss.
326
00:18:58,000 --> 00:19:01,800
Tell her, if she's forgotten
old Satchmo, I don't blame her.
327
00:19:01,830 --> 00:19:04,530
I feel she's too
young to understand.
328
00:19:04,560 --> 00:19:09,330
Regardless, I love her, and
I am saving money, especially
329
00:19:09,360 --> 00:19:11,300
for her college education.
330
00:19:11,330 --> 00:19:14,000
Whatever college
she wishes to go to,
331
00:19:14,030 --> 00:19:19,200
I got her covered, because
as long as old Satchmo lives,
332
00:19:19,230 --> 00:19:23,260
her happiness is assured. "
333
00:19:23,300 --> 00:19:26,030
Louis Armstrong said he
would take care of Sweets
334
00:19:26,060 --> 00:19:28,800
and their baby, his family.
335
00:19:28,830 --> 00:19:32,160
And she believed him, because
the checks were coming.
336
00:19:32,200 --> 00:19:33,360
[scatting]
337
00:19:37,030 --> 00:19:41,100
But I wanted so much
more than his money.
338
00:19:41,130 --> 00:19:46,230
I wanted, needed him.
339
00:19:46,260 --> 00:19:47,830
[scatting]
340
00:19:53,730 --> 00:19:56,830
Chances were always that
if he had a performance,
341
00:19:56,860 --> 00:20:00,590
Sweets knew that the
Lucille who bore his name
342
00:20:00,630 --> 00:20:03,030
could show up at
any moment, looking
343
00:20:03,060 --> 00:20:05,690
for the best seat in the house.
344
00:20:05,730 --> 00:20:08,560
Sweets could accept Louis's
invitations to the club
345
00:20:08,590 --> 00:20:10,660
where he played,
only if she came
346
00:20:10,690 --> 00:20:12,660
with her beard, Sharon's uncle.
347
00:20:16,000 --> 00:20:18,130
Every move they made
had to be stealth.
348
00:20:21,530 --> 00:20:25,300
My father couldn't acknowledge
her presence in any grand way
349
00:20:25,330 --> 00:20:28,030
or tell anyone other than
his closest associates
350
00:20:28,060 --> 00:20:32,490
what he was consistently telling
my mother I want for you.
351
00:20:32,530 --> 00:20:34,760
I want for you to be my wife.
352
00:20:34,800 --> 00:20:37,060
It's you and me.
353
00:20:37,100 --> 00:20:40,830
"I want you to know that I
love you and Sharon dearly,
354
00:20:40,860 --> 00:20:45,000
and from the bottom of my
heart, and always will.
355
00:20:45,030 --> 00:20:47,630
The only things
missing is that I
356
00:20:47,660 --> 00:20:51,460
am starving to see you and be
with you more moments than you
357
00:20:51,490 --> 00:20:52,930
may think.
358
00:20:52,960 --> 00:20:56,360
Whether you want me or not,
you will have to marry me.
359
00:20:56,400 --> 00:20:59,660
I pray to God every
day for that moment. "
360
00:20:59,690 --> 00:21:02,760
[jazz music playing]
361
00:21:03,660 --> 00:21:07,130
This in particular,
my uncle couldn't stand.
362
00:21:07,160 --> 00:21:11,300
The sneaking around is
what he used to call it.
363
00:21:11,330 --> 00:21:13,930
I called it simply fun.
364
00:21:16,900 --> 00:21:19,130
There was nothing like
being a five-year-old
365
00:21:19,160 --> 00:21:21,760
in the dressing room of
one of my father's gigs,
366
00:21:21,800 --> 00:21:24,430
or especially on the tour
bus with him and his band.
367
00:21:29,830 --> 00:21:32,260
It was something to
put my little hand
368
00:21:32,300 --> 00:21:36,230
into that massive palm of my
father's and climb the stairs
369
00:21:36,260 --> 00:21:39,160
up into that huge automobile.
370
00:21:39,200 --> 00:21:42,200
[jazz music playing]
371
00:21:44,330 --> 00:21:46,360
The whole world, it
seemed, would show up
372
00:21:46,400 --> 00:21:49,630
with pen and paper in hand,
waiting for the bus doors
373
00:21:49,660 --> 00:21:54,460
to open and my father to tumble
down the stairs, his laughter
374
00:21:54,490 --> 00:21:57,690
and those big old bright
eyes delighting anyone who
375
00:21:57,730 --> 00:22:00,300
happened to be in the vicinity.
376
00:22:00,330 --> 00:22:02,830
We just pulled into
our stop for the night
377
00:22:02,860 --> 00:22:05,330
when two young white
kids walked by.
378
00:22:05,360 --> 00:22:10,800
One said, very excitedly, look,
this is Louis Armstrong's bus.
379
00:22:10,830 --> 00:22:11,900
So what?
380
00:22:11,930 --> 00:22:13,490
The other sneered.
381
00:22:13,530 --> 00:22:14,900
He's just another nigger.
382
00:22:18,760 --> 00:22:23,330
I'll never forget the look on
my father's face, how deeply it
383
00:22:23,360 --> 00:22:26,530
sliced and seared.
384
00:22:26,560 --> 00:22:30,330
My father turned to me
and said, in this world,
385
00:22:30,360 --> 00:22:35,690
no matter how big you get,
you'll always be a nigger.
386
00:22:35,730 --> 00:22:39,530
Flawed as it was, that was
one of the few instances
387
00:22:39,560 --> 00:22:42,860
in which Louis spoke
wisdom to me as a father,
388
00:22:42,900 --> 00:22:46,130
as if he had something he
needed desperately to share
389
00:22:46,160 --> 00:22:49,530
with me, daddy to daughter.
390
00:22:49,560 --> 00:22:51,800
Louis Armstrong had
adoring fans who
391
00:22:51,830 --> 00:22:55,830
spanned the globe in cultures,
backgrounds, languages,
392
00:22:55,860 --> 00:22:59,430
experiences, and races.
393
00:22:59,460 --> 00:23:01,430
Though he faced
mounting criticism
394
00:23:01,460 --> 00:23:04,930
for not hitching himself fully
and vocally to the Civil Rights
395
00:23:04,960 --> 00:23:08,230
movement, my father cared
deeply about the conditions
396
00:23:08,260 --> 00:23:09,590
of his people.
397
00:23:09,630 --> 00:23:11,590
[MUSIC - "WHEN THE SAINTS
GO MARCHING IN"]
398
00:23:11,630 --> 00:23:15,230
(SINGING) ♪ Yes I want
to be in that number ♪
399
00:23:15,260 --> 00:23:18,830
♪ when the saints go
marching in. ♪
400
00:23:18,860 --> 00:23:24,430
♪
401
00:23:24,460 --> 00:23:27,360
He was not there to
potty train me or wean me
402
00:23:27,400 --> 00:23:30,100
from a bottle or
outstretch his arms to me
403
00:23:30,130 --> 00:23:32,300
as I took my first step.
404
00:23:32,330 --> 00:23:34,960
He wasn't there to teach
me how to tie my shoes
405
00:23:35,000 --> 00:23:37,400
or cut my meat
with a sharp blade
406
00:23:37,430 --> 00:23:40,960
or ride a two-wheeler
with the wind in my face.
407
00:23:41,000 --> 00:23:43,960
But this, this is
one of those lessons
408
00:23:44,000 --> 00:23:46,400
he'd left for me,
that there will always
409
00:23:46,430 --> 00:23:50,530
be people who feel that way,
the way those kids felt.
410
00:23:50,560 --> 00:23:52,490
And that's reality.
411
00:23:52,530 --> 00:23:55,530
[jazz music playing]
412
00:23:57,330 --> 00:23:59,000
While other
children made the most
413
00:23:59,030 --> 00:24:01,130
of what Harlem had
to offer, my mother,
414
00:24:01,160 --> 00:24:04,230
fully aware that her sole
job was to take care of me,
415
00:24:04,260 --> 00:24:06,860
made a point of taking me
outside the neighborhood
416
00:24:06,900 --> 00:24:09,490
to experience much more.
417
00:24:09,530 --> 00:24:12,960
[jazz music playing]
418
00:24:14,430 --> 00:24:16,760
We'd get on the 5th
Avenue bus around the corner
419
00:24:16,800 --> 00:24:20,460
from our building and ride
downtown to Central Park,
420
00:24:20,490 --> 00:24:22,630
alternating between
grabbing the rings
421
00:24:22,660 --> 00:24:25,460
on the colorful,
legendary carousel
422
00:24:25,490 --> 00:24:29,560
and prancing in the grass on the
grounds of one of the many park
423
00:24:29,590 --> 00:24:31,460
playgrounds.
424
00:24:31,490 --> 00:24:37,690
♪
425
00:24:37,730 --> 00:24:40,330
I was very fortunate
to have all the material
426
00:24:40,360 --> 00:24:44,690
trappings of being raised upper
middle class, private school,
427
00:24:44,730 --> 00:24:48,560
roller skates, ice skates,
and private music lessons.
428
00:24:48,590 --> 00:24:51,160
I got a new bike
every other year,
429
00:24:51,200 --> 00:24:53,860
the latest toys at
Christmas and birthdays.
430
00:24:53,900 --> 00:24:58,530
And I had a fabulous
collection of Barbie dolls.
431
00:24:58,560 --> 00:25:02,060
The money my father provided Mom
and me gave us the opportunity
432
00:25:02,100 --> 00:25:05,330
to live a life like my
classmates and people
433
00:25:05,360 --> 00:25:08,530
that we went to church with.
434
00:25:08,560 --> 00:25:12,000
Other times, we'd go to the
Metropolitan Museum of Art
435
00:25:12,030 --> 00:25:15,530
and marvel at all of the
great works of the masters.
436
00:25:15,560 --> 00:25:18,330
And we'd visit the Museum
of Natural History.
437
00:25:18,360 --> 00:25:20,900
Or at the behest of
my father, Joe Glaser
438
00:25:20,930 --> 00:25:23,300
would send my mother
tickets to Broadway plays.
439
00:25:26,960 --> 00:25:31,930
Those afternoons were heaven,
full of fantasy and majesty,
440
00:25:31,960 --> 00:25:34,960
going around and
around on that carousel
441
00:25:35,000 --> 00:25:39,590
and feeling free and seeing
everyone smiling and happy
442
00:25:39,630 --> 00:25:42,860
and getting dressed up in
my finest, and mother too,
443
00:25:42,900 --> 00:25:45,000
to take in a play.
444
00:25:45,030 --> 00:25:47,130
Classic.
445
00:25:47,160 --> 00:25:50,260
This wasn't what people
I grew up around did.
446
00:25:50,300 --> 00:25:53,830
This, I gather, is what my
father held onto as evidence
447
00:25:53,860 --> 00:25:56,490
that he was a good father
to me, the fact that he
448
00:25:56,530 --> 00:25:58,830
was a sound provider.
449
00:25:58,860 --> 00:26:03,360
He always emphasized that
my future was on his mind.
450
00:26:03,400 --> 00:26:05,900
He paid for private
school, and until the day
451
00:26:05,930 --> 00:26:09,430
he died, saved for
my college education.
452
00:26:09,460 --> 00:26:12,430
[band playing]
453
00:26:12,460 --> 00:26:20,460
♪
454
00:26:20,560 --> 00:26:21,530
Come on, folks.
455
00:26:21,560 --> 00:26:23,800
Everybody sing.
456
00:26:23,830 --> 00:26:31,830
And this really gives me a
sense of the iconic stature
457
00:26:33,260 --> 00:26:34,830
of my father.
458
00:26:34,860 --> 00:26:39,800
A trip to Hawaii, taking a
publicity photo for Pan Am.
459
00:26:39,830 --> 00:26:43,800
And on that trip, they
created a special menu
460
00:26:43,830 --> 00:26:46,130
for him and his crew.
461
00:26:46,160 --> 00:26:48,860
And this is sent to my mother.
462
00:26:48,900 --> 00:26:51,160
Honey, dig this ####
463
00:26:51,200 --> 00:26:53,660
Pops.
464
00:26:53,690 --> 00:26:56,900
My mother's rent was covered by
the many checks Dad had sent us
465
00:26:56,930 --> 00:26:58,160
through Joe Glaser.
466
00:26:58,200 --> 00:27:01,200
And eventually, he
even saved up enough
467
00:27:01,230 --> 00:27:05,000
to have Glaser buy us a house
in Mount Vernon, New York.
468
00:27:08,230 --> 00:27:12,330
It was a great house with a
huge indoor wraparound porch.
469
00:27:12,360 --> 00:27:15,630
We had three floors with
two bedrooms upstairs,
470
00:27:15,660 --> 00:27:18,330
a living room,
dining room, kitchen,
471
00:27:18,360 --> 00:27:22,430
and a den on the main
level, and a full basement.
472
00:27:22,460 --> 00:27:26,330
We also had a big backyard,
a side yard, and a two car
473
00:27:26,360 --> 00:27:27,930
garage.
474
00:27:27,960 --> 00:27:31,130
But we never had a car,
because mom didn't drive.
475
00:27:31,160 --> 00:27:35,400
And even though friends,
company, and family visited us
476
00:27:35,430 --> 00:27:37,490
in that big house
in Mount Vernon,
477
00:27:37,530 --> 00:27:39,860
it was still very lonely.
478
00:27:39,900 --> 00:27:44,460
"Impress upon Sister Sharon,
she has her own home paid for.
479
00:27:44,490 --> 00:27:46,000
Wow.
480
00:27:46,030 --> 00:27:49,830
I travel all over the world,
and I don't see these things.
481
00:27:49,860 --> 00:27:53,690
Tell Sharon she is the most
blessed child in the world.
482
00:27:53,730 --> 00:27:55,960
The only thing she
will probably miss
483
00:27:56,000 --> 00:28:00,560
is the lovely, juicy kisses
she gives to her daddy Satchmo.
484
00:28:00,590 --> 00:28:02,430
Tee-hee.
485
00:28:02,460 --> 00:28:06,430
And believe me, that
little chick can kiss.
486
00:28:06,460 --> 00:28:09,730
I love them and miss them.
487
00:28:09,760 --> 00:28:13,960
So tell Sharon, if she ever
forgets Satch, she's nowhere. "
488
00:28:16,360 --> 00:28:18,000
Our years in Mount
Vernon turned out
489
00:28:18,030 --> 00:28:19,800
to be the darkest of our lives.
490
00:28:23,030 --> 00:28:25,590
By the time we
moved there in 1962,
491
00:28:25,630 --> 00:28:29,230
my parents were in the
12th year of their affair.
492
00:28:29,260 --> 00:28:31,200
Mom was putting up
with the situation,
493
00:28:31,230 --> 00:28:33,730
but she was getting
increasingly tired of being
494
00:28:33,760 --> 00:28:36,530
the woman on the side and
was starting to pressure
495
00:28:36,560 --> 00:28:37,860
my father about marriage.
496
00:28:37,900 --> 00:28:40,560
[MUSIC - "SOMETIMES I FEEL
LIKE A MOTHERLESS CHILD"]
497
00:28:40,590 --> 00:28:46,590
(SINGING) ♪ Sometimes I feel
like a motherless child. ♪
498
00:28:49,930 --> 00:28:55,330
♪ Sometimes I feel like
a motherless child. ♪
499
00:28:58,430 --> 00:28:59,760
♪ Sometimes I feel.
500
00:28:59,800 --> 00:29:02,660
I was always a little
chubby as a toddler.
501
00:29:02,690 --> 00:29:06,100
But I had become very
overweight as a young child,
502
00:29:06,130 --> 00:29:11,660
weighing in at 135 pounds
by the time I was eight.
503
00:29:11,690 --> 00:29:15,530
The teasing was relentless.
504
00:29:15,560 --> 00:29:20,460
Food and television,
they were my comforters.
505
00:29:20,490 --> 00:29:24,330
Often, I was left
alone in my silence.
506
00:29:24,360 --> 00:29:26,760
Panel, as you know,
one question at a time,
507
00:29:26,800 --> 00:29:29,630
in turn, moving clockwise.
508
00:29:29,660 --> 00:29:32,400
We'll begin.
509
00:29:34,730 --> 00:29:36,490
The same was true of my mother,
510
00:29:36,530 --> 00:29:39,860
who seemed to find solace only
in the rhythm of my father's
511
00:29:39,900 --> 00:29:42,300
horn.
512
00:29:42,330 --> 00:29:44,230
It was when we were
in Mount Vernon
513
00:29:44,260 --> 00:29:48,860
that dad made his most famous
pop recordings, "Hello Dolly"
514
00:29:48,900 --> 00:29:50,200
and "What a Wonderful World. "
515
00:29:50,230 --> 00:29:51,540
[MUSIC - "WHAT
A WONDERFUL WORLD"]
516
00:29:51,560 --> 00:29:53,590
(SINGING)
♪ What a wonderful world.
517
00:29:56,230 --> 00:29:58,730
Louis Satchmo Armstrong.
518
00:29:59,360 --> 00:30:04,060
[scatting]
519
00:30:04,100 --> 00:30:12,100
♪
520
00:30:13,330 --> 00:30:16,490
Each of these things
made me happy, my mom too.
521
00:30:19,200 --> 00:30:22,260
But one of the hardest and most
confusing parts of my childhood
522
00:30:22,300 --> 00:30:25,230
was viewing all the
press about my father
523
00:30:25,260 --> 00:30:28,730
and never seeing anything
about my mother and me.
524
00:30:28,760 --> 00:30:30,960
He cared about us, sure.
525
00:30:31,000 --> 00:30:35,490
But clearly, we were
outsiders in his world.
526
00:30:35,530 --> 00:30:38,360
I can vividly recall a
visit he made to our home
527
00:30:38,400 --> 00:30:40,930
in Mount Vernon, where I
watched him like a hawk,
528
00:30:40,960 --> 00:30:45,000
trying to commit to
memory his daily habits.
529
00:30:45,030 --> 00:30:47,130
I recall on a recent
trip to England, Louis,
530
00:30:47,160 --> 00:30:49,300
you kind of shattered protocol.
531
00:30:49,330 --> 00:30:51,560
I remember him
standing in the kitchen,
532
00:30:51,590 --> 00:30:54,100
listening intently to the radio.
533
00:30:54,130 --> 00:30:58,300
It's important you keep up
with current events, he boomed.
534
00:30:58,330 --> 00:31:02,300
I nodded, grateful for even
that small morsel of advice
535
00:31:02,330 --> 00:31:03,630
from my dad.
536
00:31:03,660 --> 00:31:04,970
[MUSIC - "NOBODY KNOWS
THE TROUBLE I'VE SEEN"]
537
00:31:05,000 --> 00:31:09,100
(SINGING)
♪ Nobody knows my sorrow.
538
00:31:11,030 --> 00:31:13,160
Soon though, I
was asking questions
539
00:31:13,200 --> 00:31:17,760
about my father, each one flying
at my mother at a rapid clip.
540
00:31:17,800 --> 00:31:19,560
When was he going
to live with us?
541
00:31:19,590 --> 00:31:23,000
Why weren't we traveling with
him in the summers anymore?
542
00:31:23,030 --> 00:31:26,960
Why was my name Preston
instead of Armstrong?
543
00:31:27,000 --> 00:31:31,330
Mom's answers were
always evasive.
544
00:31:31,360 --> 00:31:35,930
I'd be left to my own
assumptions, my own fantasies.
545
00:31:35,960 --> 00:31:38,630
[MUSIC - "LITTLE GIRL BLUE"]
546
00:31:38,660 --> 00:31:42,000
(SINGING)
♪ Little girl blue.
547
00:31:42,030 --> 00:31:45,560
They played out in my closet,
a walk-in affair with a small
548
00:31:45,590 --> 00:31:50,830
window overlooking the side
of our house and driveway.
549
00:31:50,860 --> 00:31:54,060
I'd sit in that
closet for hours,
550
00:31:54,100 --> 00:31:57,830
marveling at the squirrels
dancing from one tree
551
00:31:57,860 --> 00:31:58,860
to the next.
552
00:32:01,400 --> 00:32:03,590
I wondered what my
father was doing
553
00:32:03,630 --> 00:32:07,560
and when he'd be
coming back to us.
554
00:32:07,590 --> 00:32:10,060
It was in that
closet that I stared
555
00:32:10,100 --> 00:32:14,400
at a picture my mom had of him
with a little blonde child.
556
00:32:14,430 --> 00:32:17,330
They were smiling at each
other, and she was hugging him.
557
00:32:17,360 --> 00:32:21,230
And he was hugging her back,
a vision that haunted me,
558
00:32:21,260 --> 00:32:25,630
because I'd never known such
affection from Louis Armstrong.
559
00:32:25,660 --> 00:32:31,860
I didn't and still don't have
any pictures of us together.
560
00:32:31,900 --> 00:32:36,690
Well, this is a great photo
of him smiling and, you know,
561
00:32:36,730 --> 00:32:38,730
hugging a young fan.
562
00:32:38,760 --> 00:32:42,660
But I would see this, and
I would see many pictures
563
00:32:42,690 --> 00:32:46,930
like this, hugging fans and
looking similar to this,
564
00:32:46,960 --> 00:32:49,400
and would just wish it were me.
565
00:32:49,430 --> 00:32:51,260
So it would make
me a little sad.
566
00:32:51,300 --> 00:32:57,200
But I just saw a lot of it
and was pretty used to it.
567
00:32:57,230 --> 00:33:01,300
When he wasn't there, it was his
shirt that brought me to life,
568
00:33:01,330 --> 00:33:04,130
a Hawaiian style print
he left over at our house
569
00:33:04,160 --> 00:33:06,630
after one of his rare visits.
570
00:33:06,660 --> 00:33:10,560
It was huge and blue gray
with pale yellow flowers
571
00:33:10,590 --> 00:33:12,230
and sandy leaves.
572
00:33:12,260 --> 00:33:15,930
It had his smell on it,
the smell I later realized
573
00:33:15,960 --> 00:33:19,360
was a mix of an earthy
aftershave, cigarettes,
574
00:33:19,400 --> 00:33:22,690
cologne, and weed.
575
00:33:22,730 --> 00:33:26,230
I hoarded it in my
closet, my secret place.
576
00:33:26,260 --> 00:33:28,330
And occasionally,
I'd dance with it
577
00:33:28,360 --> 00:33:31,360
or put it on or
sway to his music,
578
00:33:31,400 --> 00:33:35,030
or just hug it like he did that
little girl in the picture.
579
00:33:35,060 --> 00:33:37,260
[MUSIC - "UNCLE SATCHMO'S
LULLABY"]
580
00:33:37,300 --> 00:33:43,100
(SINGING) ♪ Lu la lu
la lu, lu la lu la ly. ♪
581
00:33:43,130 --> 00:33:47,030
♪ Uncle Satchmo's lullaby.
582
00:33:50,030 --> 00:33:53,330
[Louis Armstrong on tape] I just
thought I'd send this tune to you,
583
00:33:53,360 --> 00:33:55,430
because I just finished
recording it with a little
584
00:33:55,460 --> 00:33:58,060
11-year-old child,
German girl of course,
585
00:33:58,100 --> 00:34:01,460
by the name of Gabriele.
586
00:34:01,490 --> 00:34:02,930
And she's smart as a whip.
587
00:34:02,960 --> 00:34:05,200
She remind me so much
of Sharon, that I
588
00:34:05,230 --> 00:34:07,490
thought I'd just
send you this tune,
589
00:34:07,530 --> 00:34:09,430
"Uncle Satchmo's Lullaby. "
590
00:34:09,460 --> 00:34:10,830
Isn't it beautiful?
591
00:34:10,860 --> 00:34:12,830
[girl singing in German]
592
00:34:12,860 --> 00:34:16,160
(Louis singing)
♪ And I say good night.
593
00:34:16,200 --> 00:34:19,230
How do you like my German, baby?
594
00:34:19,260 --> 00:34:21,560
[speaking German]
595
00:34:24,300 --> 00:34:26,260
[girl singing in German]
596
00:34:26,300 --> 00:34:29,430
I'm the only child
Louis Armstrong ever had.
597
00:34:29,460 --> 00:34:34,060
He knew it, my mother knew
it, and I know it too.
598
00:34:34,100 --> 00:34:36,160
[scatting]
599
00:34:36,200 --> 00:34:38,930
Though the feeling was
fleeting, in those moments,
600
00:34:38,960 --> 00:34:44,560
I felt close to him,
like he really was there.
601
00:34:44,590 --> 00:34:45,590
But he wasn't.
602
00:34:47,800 --> 00:34:50,730
And by age 10, after
all the questions,
603
00:34:50,760 --> 00:34:55,830
after all the secrets,
I finally found out why.
604
00:34:55,860 --> 00:34:57,160
Here's Johnny.
605
00:34:57,200 --> 00:35:00,660
[applause]
606
00:35:00,690 --> 00:35:04,260
I was, as usual, perched in
front of the television set,
607
00:35:04,300 --> 00:35:06,830
alone in my thoughts while
I waited for my father
608
00:35:06,860 --> 00:35:09,630
to sit in Johnny Carson's
chair on "The Tonight Show. "
609
00:35:12,400 --> 00:35:15,800
This was a big deal for me,
a big deal for any African
610
00:35:15,830 --> 00:35:19,530
American who thought it exciting
to see a Black person on TV.
611
00:35:19,560 --> 00:35:22,200
But obviously, more
so for me, because,
612
00:35:22,230 --> 00:35:24,260
well, that person was my dad.
613
00:35:26,830 --> 00:35:29,760
One of the most extraordinary
forces in all of music
614
00:35:29,800 --> 00:35:31,930
is with us tonight,
Louis Armstrong.
615
00:35:31,960 --> 00:35:34,030
[applause]
616
00:35:34,060 --> 00:35:36,460
He was so alive in
that chair, sitting there
617
00:35:36,490 --> 00:35:40,490
with his humongous personality,
talking and being so very
618
00:35:40,530 --> 00:35:43,760
cavalier in his conversation,
which centered on his doings
619
00:35:43,800 --> 00:35:45,100
with Lucille.
620
00:35:45,130 --> 00:35:50,130
And my wife Lucille
and I, we [inaudible]
621
00:35:50,160 --> 00:35:53,460
A feeling of sheer horror
washed over me like a tsunami.
622
00:35:53,490 --> 00:35:57,000
So he asks me, he says,
have you any children?
623
00:35:57,030 --> 00:35:59,160
I said, well, no Daddy.
624
00:35:59,200 --> 00:36:01,330
But we're still willing.
625
00:36:01,360 --> 00:36:03,800
[laughter]
626
00:36:03,830 --> 00:36:06,830
[cheering, applause]
627
00:36:08,260 --> 00:36:11,530
I couldn't believe
what I was hearing.
628
00:36:11,560 --> 00:36:17,100
Each word morphed into a siren,
blaring this one true thing.
629
00:36:17,130 --> 00:36:20,060
The Lucille my father
was speaking about
630
00:36:20,100 --> 00:36:22,300
was not my mother.
631
00:36:22,330 --> 00:36:25,060
The house was not our house.
632
00:36:25,100 --> 00:36:26,730
Did he ask you what
your religion was?
633
00:36:26,760 --> 00:36:29,430
The life which he was
laughing and bragging
634
00:36:29,460 --> 00:36:35,260
about to the world, to me,
was not my own, not ours.
635
00:36:35,300 --> 00:36:37,660
My wife is. she's Catholic.
636
00:36:37,690 --> 00:36:39,660
As fast as my
feet could carry me,
637
00:36:39,690 --> 00:36:41,830
I rushed down the
stairs from my room
638
00:36:41,860 --> 00:36:47,000
to where my mother sat in
the den staring at the TV.
639
00:36:47,030 --> 00:36:49,100
So when he told me he's
going to pray for me.
640
00:36:49,130 --> 00:36:52,530
Mom, I demanded, what
is he talking about?
641
00:36:52,560 --> 00:36:54,730
Who is Lucille?
642
00:36:54,760 --> 00:36:56,690
What house in Corona?
643
00:36:56,730 --> 00:36:59,360
He says his wife
Lucille lives in Corona,
644
00:36:59,400 --> 00:37:03,200
but I know he's not
talking about you.
645
00:37:03,230 --> 00:37:05,860
She won't give him a
divorce, she insisted.
646
00:37:05,900 --> 00:37:07,660
He loves us, and
he would be with us
647
00:37:07,690 --> 00:37:09,730
if he could just get a divorce.
648
00:37:09,760 --> 00:37:12,160
But he has to be with her.
649
00:37:12,200 --> 00:37:17,560
Stunned by her confirmation,
I backed out of the den,
650
00:37:17,590 --> 00:37:21,230
stumbled back upstairs and
numbly cast myself down
651
00:37:21,260 --> 00:37:22,260
onto my bed.
652
00:37:24,830 --> 00:37:28,430
The pillow made quick
work of muffling my cries,
653
00:37:28,460 --> 00:37:29,800
catching my tears.
654
00:37:29,830 --> 00:37:31,140
[MUSIC - "UNCLE
SATCHMO'S LULLABY"]
655
00:37:31,160 --> 00:37:34,030
♪ Iu la lu la ly
lullaby. ♪
656
00:37:37,460 --> 00:37:39,130
This is when I was 10.
657
00:37:39,160 --> 00:37:44,460
This is really when life
changed a lot for me.
658
00:37:44,490 --> 00:37:51,060
And I really learned another
part about my family.
659
00:37:51,100 --> 00:37:53,200
This is when I learned
that my father was
660
00:37:53,230 --> 00:37:57,160
married to Lucille Armstrong.
661
00:37:57,200 --> 00:38:03,030
But this is my confirmation,
so it was a good day.
662
00:38:06,660 --> 00:38:11,800
"Dear Sharon, your daddy
Satchmo love you very much.
663
00:38:11,830 --> 00:38:14,490
I think of you every day.
664
00:38:14,530 --> 00:38:15,690
May the Lord bless. "
665
00:38:22,590 --> 00:38:24,490
My father had invited
my mother and me
666
00:38:24,530 --> 00:38:28,590
to see him perform at the
Steel Pier in Atlantic City.
667
00:38:28,630 --> 00:38:31,860
We all went out to check out
Marvin Gaye, who was performing
668
00:38:31,900 --> 00:38:34,030
at a nearby club.
669
00:38:34,060 --> 00:38:37,460
I, a fan of the Motown
sound, and an adolescent
670
00:38:37,490 --> 00:38:41,330
who, for the first time, had
a girl crush on a sexy soul
671
00:38:41,360 --> 00:38:44,930
singer, was in love
with Marvin Gaye.
672
00:38:44,960 --> 00:38:47,100
My father had a
problem with this.
673
00:38:47,130 --> 00:38:49,490
My father actually
got upset when I asked
674
00:38:49,530 --> 00:38:51,430
to see Gaye's second show.
675
00:38:51,460 --> 00:38:54,060
He didn't yell or
overreact to me.
676
00:38:54,100 --> 00:38:56,590
But he wasn't his
usual easygoing self,
677
00:38:56,630 --> 00:38:59,900
which is the side
of him I always saw.
678
00:38:59,930 --> 00:39:03,330
Suddenly, my mother
who was visibly upset,
679
00:39:03,360 --> 00:39:07,000
pulled me over to the side and
said, you made your father mad.
680
00:39:07,030 --> 00:39:10,260
You should have never asked
to see the second show.
681
00:39:10,300 --> 00:39:12,160
You should have never asked him.
682
00:39:14,760 --> 00:39:16,330
The last thing I
remember hearing
683
00:39:16,360 --> 00:39:18,960
was my mother
shouting to my father,
684
00:39:19,000 --> 00:39:22,230
when are you going to marry me?
685
00:39:22,260 --> 00:39:26,730
My father yelled back, never.
686
00:39:26,760 --> 00:39:32,690
I stood there, bleary-eyed,
confused, heartbroken.
687
00:39:32,730 --> 00:39:36,860
We cut our vacation short
and left the next day.
688
00:39:36,900 --> 00:39:39,960
All of us were
shaken to the core.
689
00:39:40,000 --> 00:39:42,200
And my mother, with a
12-year-old daughter
690
00:39:42,230 --> 00:39:45,260
to care for, was
forced, finally,
691
00:39:45,300 --> 00:39:48,230
to let go of her happily ever
after with Louis Armstrong
692
00:39:48,260 --> 00:39:52,200
fantasy, and realized that
the other woman in his life,
693
00:39:52,230 --> 00:39:55,060
the Lucille who wore
his wedding ring,
694
00:39:55,100 --> 00:39:57,100
had a hold on the part
of my father's heart
695
00:39:57,130 --> 00:40:00,030
that my mother could
never ever have.
696
00:40:00,060 --> 00:40:03,060
[trumpet playing]
697
00:40:05,530 --> 00:40:08,400
While the other Lucille
carefully and meticulously
698
00:40:08,430 --> 00:40:12,360
enjoyed the life that we'd hoped
to have with Louis Armstrong,
699
00:40:12,400 --> 00:40:15,200
my mother and I lived
in their shadow.
700
00:40:15,230 --> 00:40:20,330
"P. S. , if you're ready to
bury the hatchet, I am, huh?
701
00:40:20,360 --> 00:40:23,630
Well, dear, it's been
a long time no see.
702
00:40:23,660 --> 00:40:25,960
But don't think for
once that I don't think
703
00:40:26,000 --> 00:40:28,560
about you every living day.
704
00:40:28,590 --> 00:40:33,830
Of course, I take it for granted
that you're OK in every way.
705
00:40:33,860 --> 00:40:36,830
That's my consolation, anyway.
706
00:40:36,860 --> 00:40:39,830
Give my little daughter
a big kiss for her daddy.
707
00:40:39,860 --> 00:40:46,490
Tell her I love her much, much,
much, which means a whole lots.
708
00:40:46,530 --> 00:40:48,400
I love you too, darling.
709
00:40:48,430 --> 00:40:50,400
Of course, you
already knows that.
710
00:40:50,430 --> 00:40:54,690
How could you think otherwise
after all these years?
711
00:40:54,730 --> 00:40:58,630
Now, you just stop your pouting
and give your Daddy Satch
712
00:40:58,660 --> 00:41:01,260
a big smile with
the nicest thought
713
00:41:01,300 --> 00:41:03,630
that you ever had in your mind.
714
00:41:03,660 --> 00:41:07,160
Love aplenty, Satch,
Louis Armstrong. "
715
00:41:07,200 --> 00:41:08,690
[MUSIC - "CABARET"]
716
00:41:08,730 --> 00:41:12,960
(SINGING) ♪ blow your horn,
start celebrating. ♪
717
00:41:13,000 --> 00:41:14,360
♪ Right this way.
718
00:41:14,400 --> 00:41:17,360
♪ Your table's waiting.
719
00:41:17,400 --> 00:41:20,730
It was a year before Sweets
would take Louis's calls
720
00:41:20,760 --> 00:41:24,630
and let him into their home.
721
00:41:24,660 --> 00:41:28,260
Not long after that,
he became very ill
722
00:41:28,300 --> 00:41:33,160
and spent months in a hospital
for heart and kidney failure.
723
00:41:33,200 --> 00:41:36,030
Louis wanted nothing
more than to play.
724
00:41:36,060 --> 00:41:40,160
He refused doctor's orders
to cut back on his schedule.
725
00:41:40,200 --> 00:41:42,560
To Louis, putting
down his instrument
726
00:41:42,590 --> 00:41:46,800
meant he was giving in
to the illness, to death.
727
00:41:46,830 --> 00:41:50,560
He needed to blow that
horn, and so he did.
728
00:41:54,830 --> 00:41:58,630
"Dear Sweets and Sharon, don't
you all get the least idea I
729
00:41:58,660 --> 00:42:03,660
don't love y'all's dirty
drawers, because I do.
730
00:42:03,690 --> 00:42:08,490
Mr. Glaser has his instructions,
keep Sweets and Sharon happy.
731
00:42:08,530 --> 00:42:09,830
Dig?
732
00:42:09,860 --> 00:42:12,400
You have nothing
to squawk about.
733
00:42:12,430 --> 00:42:16,130
The only thing missing is me.
734
00:42:16,160 --> 00:42:20,200
Huh, that can come
later, just like
735
00:42:20,230 --> 00:42:22,730
and when it's supposed to be.
736
00:42:22,760 --> 00:42:27,200
Sharon may not realize
how and what I mean to her
737
00:42:27,230 --> 00:42:29,130
and doing for her.
738
00:42:29,160 --> 00:42:32,660
But I am sure, as
she matures, she'll
739
00:42:32,690 --> 00:42:37,400
dig Pops as the man who will
be loving her until the day he
740
00:42:37,430 --> 00:42:40,000
dies or she dies.
741
00:42:40,030 --> 00:42:44,260
That's sincerity and
from the heart stuff.
742
00:42:44,300 --> 00:42:47,260
God knows I love you both madly.
743
00:42:47,300 --> 00:42:50,430
From your boy, Louis Armstrong. "
744
00:42:58,400 --> 00:43:01,760
In that letter was $700 cash,
745
00:43:01,800 --> 00:43:04,200
$500 of which he sent at
my mother's direction
746
00:43:04,230 --> 00:43:06,400
for a new accordion for me.
747
00:43:06,430 --> 00:43:08,530
And the rest, he added
so that mom could
748
00:43:08,560 --> 00:43:10,030
buy something nice for herself.
749
00:43:15,430 --> 00:43:18,200
The last time we saw him
was at one of his New York
750
00:43:18,230 --> 00:43:19,660
performances.
751
00:43:19,690 --> 00:43:21,930
Mom and I went backstage
for a short visit
752
00:43:21,960 --> 00:43:23,230
in his dressing room.
753
00:43:23,260 --> 00:43:26,030
We were among many guests,
and our brief hello
754
00:43:26,060 --> 00:43:28,900
was anything but
private and personal,
755
00:43:28,930 --> 00:43:30,690
though he did ask
me about school
756
00:43:30,730 --> 00:43:33,430
and how I was progressing
with my music lessons.
757
00:43:33,460 --> 00:43:36,660
We were just part of the
entourage, nothing special.
758
00:43:36,690 --> 00:43:39,360
Louis Armstrong died
this morning at his home
759
00:43:39,400 --> 00:43:41,100
in New York in his sleep.
760
00:43:41,130 --> 00:43:42,560
He was 71.
761
00:43:42,590 --> 00:43:44,670
And although he had been
quite sick earlier this year.
762
00:43:44,690 --> 00:43:47,860
Mom jumped up and screamed.
763
00:43:47,900 --> 00:43:49,960
I froze.
764
00:43:50,000 --> 00:43:54,830
Just like that, my father was
gone from our lives forever.
765
00:43:54,860 --> 00:43:56,800
Armstrong was one of
the greatest musicians
766
00:43:56,830 --> 00:44:00,360
in the history of jazz,
a legendary entertainer.
767
00:44:00,400 --> 00:44:03,860
My mother eventually
folded me in her embrace.
768
00:44:03,900 --> 00:44:06,490
But we offered little
comfort to each other.
769
00:44:06,530 --> 00:44:09,930
Louis Armstrong's death was
promptly reported in Moscow.
770
00:44:09,960 --> 00:44:12,590
We'd spend the rest
of the evening staring
771
00:44:12,630 --> 00:44:14,490
at the television
until we fell asleep.
772
00:44:14,530 --> 00:44:18,130
(SINGING) ♪ Refuse to shine.
773
00:44:18,160 --> 00:44:23,100
Armstrong was laid out in
the New York State Armory.
774
00:44:23,130 --> 00:44:27,200
More than 25,000 fans got
to say goodbye to him.
775
00:44:27,230 --> 00:44:30,560
But his family was
forced to stay away.
776
00:44:30,590 --> 00:44:33,060
Sharon's aunt was one
of the many mourners
777
00:44:33,100 --> 00:44:36,100
and served as a silent
representative for the family.
778
00:44:36,130 --> 00:44:39,030
(SINGING) ♪ When the saints.
779
00:44:39,060 --> 00:44:42,200
Days later, they received
a stack of saving bonds
780
00:44:42,230 --> 00:44:46,530
that he had been keeping for
Sharon's college education, 25
781
00:44:46,560 --> 00:44:53,690
bonds and $1,000 each.
782
00:44:53,730 --> 00:44:56,260
He didn't live with us, true.
783
00:44:56,300 --> 00:44:59,030
And by the time he died,
we hadn't physically
784
00:44:59,060 --> 00:45:02,230
seen him for two years.
785
00:45:02,260 --> 00:45:04,860
But while he was no
more, his presence
786
00:45:04,900 --> 00:45:09,560
still felt constant, surreal,
because my mother wouldn't
787
00:45:09,590 --> 00:45:14,400
let him go, because I had so
many unanswered questions,
788
00:45:14,430 --> 00:45:17,560
because the world loved
Louis Armstrong and his music
789
00:45:17,590 --> 00:45:22,660
so much that his fans all
but defined him, completely
790
00:45:22,690 --> 00:45:27,000
unaware of his complexities,
his perfect imperfections.
791
00:45:27,030 --> 00:45:29,000
[MUSIC - "NOBODY KNOWS THE
TROUBLE I'VE SEEN"]
792
00:45:29,030 --> 00:45:31,000
(SINGING)
♪ Glory,
793
00:45:31,030 --> 00:45:39,030
♪ hallelujah.
794
00:45:46,300 --> 00:45:49,230
I can remember, when I was
10 years old, walking away
795
00:45:49,260 --> 00:45:52,000
from the Jones Beach Theater
with my father, mother,
796
00:45:52,030 --> 00:45:53,830
and uncle.
797
00:45:53,860 --> 00:45:57,630
My cousin, who traveled with
us during the summers, at 16,
798
00:45:57,660 --> 00:46:00,360
became a single mother.
799
00:46:00,400 --> 00:46:02,490
My father turned
to me and said, I
800
00:46:02,530 --> 00:46:05,360
want to let you know, if
it ever happens to you,
801
00:46:05,400 --> 00:46:06,730
don't worry about it.
802
00:46:06,760 --> 00:46:09,560
I'll be there for you.
803
00:46:09,590 --> 00:46:14,200
How ironic that I turned
16, my father passed away.
804
00:46:14,230 --> 00:46:16,860
And a month later,
it did happen to me.
805
00:46:16,900 --> 00:46:19,360
And of course, he was not there.
806
00:46:23,960 --> 00:46:26,330
That I, daughter
of Louis Armstrong,
807
00:46:26,360 --> 00:46:28,230
became pregnant as
a teen should come
808
00:46:28,260 --> 00:46:30,760
as neither shock nor surprise.
809
00:46:30,800 --> 00:46:33,430
The statistics tell the story.
810
00:46:33,460 --> 00:46:35,330
Children in
single-parent households
811
00:46:35,360 --> 00:46:39,000
are more likely to get pregnant
as teenagers than their peers
812
00:46:39,030 --> 00:46:41,590
who grow up with two parents.
813
00:46:41,630 --> 00:46:46,100
No one noticed the
promiscuity, the exploitation.
814
00:46:47,030 --> 00:46:52,260
[Louis Armstrong on tape]
Well, I'll be seeing you, fräulein.
815
00:46:52,300 --> 00:46:56,300
That's what they call the
ladies over here, "fräulein"
816
00:46:56,330 --> 00:46:59,900
My life of secrecy
continued in a new chapter,
817
00:46:59,930 --> 00:47:03,830
the secret child now
having a secret child.
818
00:47:03,860 --> 00:47:06,760
After a while, it
becomes a way of being.
819
00:47:06,800 --> 00:47:10,760
Confused and frightened,
I kept it to myself,
820
00:47:10,800 --> 00:47:13,000
willing it to go away.
821
00:47:13,030 --> 00:47:14,930
It did not.
822
00:47:19,630 --> 00:47:24,060
I'm so tired right now,
I couldn't raise an eyelid.
823
00:47:24,100 --> 00:47:25,860
The gang here all said hello.
824
00:47:30,230 --> 00:47:33,800
And just as my boyfriend
and I went our separate ways,
825
00:47:33,830 --> 00:47:36,230
Dave Gold and
Associated Booking Corp
826
00:47:36,260 --> 00:47:39,100
sent the last savings bond
that my father had purchased
827
00:47:39,130 --> 00:47:42,130
for my college education,
effectively ending
828
00:47:42,160 --> 00:47:44,860
the last connection
between Louis Armstrong
829
00:47:44,900 --> 00:47:47,760
and my mother and me.
830
00:47:47,800 --> 00:47:51,130
My mother ended up taking a
job as a cook at the Christian
831
00:47:51,160 --> 00:47:54,730
Brothers residence at
Iona Prep School preparing
832
00:47:54,760 --> 00:47:57,400
weeknight dinners.
833
00:47:57,430 --> 00:48:01,460
With bills piling up and a huge
debt of taxes on the house,
834
00:48:01,490 --> 00:48:04,730
my mother sold our Mount Vernon
residence for not much more
835
00:48:04,760 --> 00:48:08,530
than the original
price from 1962.
836
00:48:08,560 --> 00:48:12,830
By 1976, I'd earned an associate
degree in liberal arts.
837
00:48:12,860 --> 00:48:16,530
I transferred to Iona College
and graduated with a BA
838
00:48:16,560 --> 00:48:18,800
in communication arts.
839
00:48:18,830 --> 00:48:20,830
In time, my mother got
a full-time position
840
00:48:20,860 --> 00:48:23,660
with the Girl Scouts and was
hired as a cook for the priest
841
00:48:23,690 --> 00:48:29,130
at Holy Family Church, a
job that lasted 17 years.
842
00:48:29,160 --> 00:48:31,430
My father had disconnected
us from his life
843
00:48:31,460 --> 00:48:32,860
while he was living.
844
00:48:32,900 --> 00:48:36,160
And his death made it
all the more glaring.
845
00:48:36,200 --> 00:48:40,260
I was ashamed of the fact that
his blood ran through my veins.
846
00:48:40,300 --> 00:48:42,660
I kicked off my
newfound independence
847
00:48:42,690 --> 00:48:45,930
by finally moving
away from my mother.
848
00:48:45,960 --> 00:48:48,260
I was an account
executive at the only jazz
849
00:48:48,300 --> 00:48:53,200
station in the area, a success
despite the heartbreak,
850
00:48:53,230 --> 00:48:55,830
despite the odds.
851
00:48:55,860 --> 00:48:59,930
And just when I was willing to
open my heart, I met Howard.
852
00:48:59,960 --> 00:49:04,330
Howard and I may seem
like a very unlikely pair.
853
00:49:04,360 --> 00:49:09,260
He says, for him, it
was love at first sight.
854
00:49:09,300 --> 00:49:11,630
For me, the connection
was pure, because he
855
00:49:11,660 --> 00:49:14,760
was and is a man I can trust.
856
00:49:17,360 --> 00:49:20,060
Through the years, and
becoming a grandmother,
857
00:49:20,100 --> 00:49:21,930
I knew in the back
of my mind that I
858
00:49:21,960 --> 00:49:25,360
had to resolve the
legacy of my father.
859
00:49:25,400 --> 00:49:30,300
I found out firsthand how I'd
been successfully and legally
860
00:49:30,330 --> 00:49:32,260
erased from Louis
Armstrong's life
861
00:49:32,300 --> 00:49:35,130
with just a few
strokes of a pen.
862
00:49:35,160 --> 00:49:39,760
This is an amendment to his
will signed by his surviving
863
00:49:39,800 --> 00:49:41,330
wife, Lucille Armstrong.
864
00:49:41,360 --> 00:49:44,960
She crossed out, "and I",
changing the document,
865
00:49:45,000 --> 00:49:47,260
the deceased never
had any children.
866
00:49:47,300 --> 00:49:52,360
And then wrote in, "nor did
he ever adopt any children. "
867
00:49:52,400 --> 00:49:56,130
Seeing this document
just really made
868
00:49:56,160 --> 00:49:59,490
me know that this
rendered me invisible.
869
00:49:59,530 --> 00:50:03,230
[jazz music playing]
870
00:50:03,260 --> 00:50:06,000
It was right then, right there,
871
00:50:06,030 --> 00:50:10,430
that I decided to tell my
story, to tell the world
872
00:50:10,460 --> 00:50:13,630
that I am here, that I matter.
873
00:50:13,660 --> 00:50:15,690
Finally, mom agreed.
874
00:50:15,730 --> 00:50:17,560
No more secrets.
875
00:50:17,590 --> 00:50:20,430
It was with her blessing
that I set out on my journey
876
00:50:20,460 --> 00:50:24,930
to discover myself,
to discover my father.
877
00:50:24,960 --> 00:50:27,860
Today, I walk with
my head held high,
878
00:50:27,900 --> 00:50:30,230
the truth bathing me in light.
879
00:50:30,260 --> 00:50:35,030
My son, my grandchildren, my
family, my friends, and now
880
00:50:35,060 --> 00:50:38,860
the world know Louis
Armstrong did indeed
881
00:50:38,900 --> 00:50:40,860
have a child, a daughter.
882
00:50:40,900 --> 00:50:42,400
And she is alive.
883
00:50:42,430 --> 00:50:45,330
And the blood of the father of
jazz runs through her veins.
884
00:50:45,360 --> 00:50:48,800
And she has a name
and a heart that beats
885
00:50:48,830 --> 00:50:53,130
and a tongue that can finally
profess loudly, succinctly,
886
00:50:53,160 --> 00:50:57,230
with conviction, I am
Sharon Preston-Folta,
887
00:50:57,260 --> 00:51:01,590
Louis Armstrong's
daughter, his only child.
888
00:51:01,630 --> 00:51:07,330
I've waited my entire lifetime
to say that publicly out loud.
889
00:51:07,360 --> 00:51:13,400
And this was given to me with
that old school lamination
890
00:51:13,430 --> 00:51:14,760
Scotch tape.
891
00:51:14,800 --> 00:51:20,200
And it's a special note,
"Thank you, Sharon.
892
00:51:20,230 --> 00:51:26,900
I love, ooooh, four o's, which
means you, your pappy Satch. "
893
00:51:26,930 --> 00:51:29,830
And not sure what
the expression is,
894
00:51:29,860 --> 00:51:32,460
if he's laughing or
crying or just singing.
895
00:51:32,490 --> 00:51:36,930
But he thought that this
was the photo he wanted
896
00:51:36,960 --> 00:51:39,860
to send to me with a note.
897
00:51:39,900 --> 00:51:42,400
And there are so many
things that I didn't keep.
898
00:51:42,430 --> 00:51:44,660
I'm so happy that
this is still one.
899
00:51:44,690 --> 00:51:46,730
[MUSIC - "BOY FROM
NEW ORLEANS"]
900
00:51:46,760 --> 00:51:53,860
(SINGING) ♪ You are very
kind to Old Satchmo. ♪
901
00:51:53,900 --> 00:51:56,630
♪ Yes.
902
00:51:56,660 --> 00:51:59,030
♪ Nice looking boy.
903
00:51:59,060 --> 00:52:01,530
We were deprived
of having my father.
904
00:52:01,560 --> 00:52:05,130
And he made it painfully clear
that he was deprived too.
905
00:52:05,160 --> 00:52:11,260
[Louis Armstrong on tape] Anyway,
good night. And God bless you.
906
00:52:11,300 --> 00:52:15,760
From your old boy, old Satchmo,
gizzard Louis Armstrong.
907
00:52:15,800 --> 00:52:20,800
(SINGING) ♪ This old
boy from New Orleans. ♪
908
00:52:25,530 --> 00:52:30,030
His legacy was built on
making people happy and at ease.
909
00:52:30,060 --> 00:52:34,530
And anything to tarnish
that legacy was dangerous.
910
00:52:34,560 --> 00:52:38,230
But Satchmo was more
than a caricature.
911
00:52:38,260 --> 00:52:39,960
He had desires.
912
00:52:40,000 --> 00:52:41,800
He had longings.
913
00:52:41,830 --> 00:52:43,530
He had secrets.
914
00:52:43,560 --> 00:52:46,800
And in private, he made
sure to defend the things
915
00:52:46,830 --> 00:52:48,630
that he loved.
916
00:52:48,660 --> 00:52:51,000
And one of those was me.
917
00:52:51,030 --> 00:52:54,060
But we always longed for more.
918
00:52:54,100 --> 00:52:55,760
I still do.
919
00:52:55,800 --> 00:52:59,590
And I know in my
heart, so did he.
920
00:52:59,630 --> 00:53:01,060
Hi, Dad.
921
00:53:01,100 --> 00:53:04,400
I thought that telling our
story would bring me some peace.
922
00:53:04,430 --> 00:53:05,590
And it has.
923
00:53:05,630 --> 00:53:09,330
But it's left me with so
many more questions too.
924
00:53:09,360 --> 00:53:11,660
There is some sliver of
light that reminds me
925
00:53:11,690 --> 00:53:17,030
of all the things I loved
about you, your hearty laugh,
926
00:53:17,060 --> 00:53:20,960
how special we felt to
be in your presence,
927
00:53:21,000 --> 00:53:24,260
the way that grumbly,
froggy voice of yours
928
00:53:24,300 --> 00:53:27,800
sang out my name, Sharon.
929
00:53:27,830 --> 00:53:31,060
Until now, I've been
nothing more than an enigma,
930
00:53:31,100 --> 00:53:34,630
a footnote in your narrative,
worthy, in some cases,
931
00:53:34,660 --> 00:53:38,830
of not even a sentence
in your public life.
932
00:53:38,860 --> 00:53:43,000
But yet, we were so much
more a part of your heart,
933
00:53:43,030 --> 00:53:46,230
being rendered invisible hurts.
934
00:53:46,260 --> 00:53:48,730
I need you to know that.
935
00:53:48,760 --> 00:53:50,690
But I've come to
accept that you did
936
00:53:50,730 --> 00:53:54,930
what you thought you could
do, and that was best for all.
937
00:53:54,960 --> 00:53:58,400
It wasn't, but that
doesn't make you any less
938
00:53:58,430 --> 00:54:03,760
my father, the man whose
shadow I lived in all my life,
939
00:54:03,800 --> 00:54:11,660
the one who shaped me, shaped
who I am, and loved me.
940
00:54:11,690 --> 00:54:15,230
Love, Sharon, your
Little Satchmo.
941
00:54:16,460 --> 00:54:18,160
[MUSIC - "UNCLE SATCHMO'S
LULLABY"]
942
00:54:18,200 --> 00:54:24,300
♪ Lu la lu la lu,
lu la lu la ly. ♪
943
00:54:24,330 --> 00:54:30,630
♪ Uncle Satchmo's lullaby.
944
00:54:30,660 --> 00:54:36,360
♪
945
00:54:37,360 --> 00:54:41,330
[jazz music playing]
946
00:54:41,360 --> 00:54:49,360
♪
947
00:54:51,400 --> 00:54:59,400
♪
71331
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