Experience an unprecedented look into the life of the founding father of jazz. You’ve heard his influential music, now hear his incredible story.
Never-before-heard personal recordings and archival footage tell the story of Louis Armstrong’s life from his perspective. From musical phenom to civil rights activist to world-renowned artist, this illuminating film shows sides of Armstrong few have seen.
This definitive documentary, directed by Sacha Jenkins, honors Armstrong's legacy as a founding father of jazz, one of the first internationally known and beloved stars, and a cultural ambassador of the United States. The film shows how Armstrong’s own life spans the shift from the Civil War to the Civil Rights movement, and how he became a lightning rod figure in that turbulent era.
With the full support of the Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation, the filmmakers have access to a treasure trove of rare archival materials, including hundreds of hours of audio recordings, film footage, photographs, personal diaries, and a life’s worth of ephemera for exclusive use in the first significant documentary dedicated entirely to his life.
“A revealing glimpse of an American Icon. A delightful experience for jazz buffs.” — John DeFore, The Hollywood Reporter
“A legend comes to life. A doc that will make you appreciate Armstrong, the man.” — Christian Blauvelt, IndieWire
“This essential documentary goes deep on the life and art of the jazz legend using Armstrong’s own words.” — Brian Truitt, USA Today