We had finally gotten to Chicago. And boy, were we hungry. It was Bass who had first said he was hungry. But that brother must have been psychic cause we were all thinking the same thing! So we walked around Chicago, looking for a place to get some hot food and hear some hot music. We finally got to a spot called the Hot 32. I later found out they called it the Hot 32 because there was someone who was shot with a .32 pistol and the guy shot the gun dropped the gun. The gun was so hot from it being fired so many times that nobody else wanted to touch it. I hoped that there would be no trouble that night because I wasn't trying to get shot. So we ordered some food and some beer. We were talking about how we were going to put our band together. While we were talking, the emcee introduced the band but we weren't paying attention. Our backs were turned to the stage but we could hear the people cheering and applauding. Then all of a sudden, I heard the hottest trumpet I had ever heard in my life. I listened to the solo and it sounded like a song I used to hear in New Orleans. I turned got up so that I could see who was playing that mean trumpet and there he was. Louis Armstrong was standing there with his band blowing "West End Blues" as only he could. He got through "West End Blues" and then played "I'll Be Glad When You're Dead, You Rascal You", "Sleepy Time Down South", and "Tiger Rag". He got took his rag, wiped his face, took a bow and ran backstage. I told Bass and Duke that we needed to go backstage and see him.
We had gotten back stage. They had a lot of dressing rooms for stars like Cab Calloway, Duke Ellington, Fats Waller, Billie Holiday, Jay McShann, Count Basie, and even Lena Horne! That's started to get giddy. I had dreams of marrying Ms. Lena. But for now, I was focusing on meeting Louis. Then, we got to his door. It had a big star with his name engraved in cursive. Duke started dancing and jumping around like he had caught the Holy Ghost. I tried to get him to calm down be he couldn't stop. Bass and I had fell out laughing! We composed ourselves and knocked on the door. We may have looked like brave men on the outside but we were scared little puppy dogs on the inside! I had butterflies all through my body. All of a sudden, the door opened and we were greeted by the widest smile and a gravelly voice saying, "Hello?"
It was him. IT WAS LOUIS ARMSTRONG! I felt like I was going to pass out! This man was my idol and I finally got to meet him face to face. I introduced myself and the guys. I also told him that I was a busker from New Orleans. He asked if I was from Storyville, which is the part of New Orleans that he was from.
I said, "Mr. Armstrong, it's an honor to meet you."
He said, "Please, call me Satch."
"Ok, Satch!" I chuckled after saying it.
"So, what are you doing in Chicago?"
"Well, like I said, I'm a young trumpeter from New Orleans trying to make it big time."
"I started out the same exact way with King Oliver." King Oliver was a big jazz musician in the 1920s and 1930s.
"I met my man Bass here while busking. He was in New Orleans for a while and he liked my music and wanted to join me. So we got on a train to Chicago and met Duke, who is a saxophone player. We are trying to start a jazz group and felt like Chicago was the place to be."
"Well, you aren't kidding about that!" We all laughed.
Bass said, "So can you give us any advice on starting a group?"
Satch was very suprised at how low Bass' voice was and said, "Great day in the morn'! I see why they call you Bass!" We all laughed at that.
Satch said, "Well, this is what you do. Put up ads for auditions for a group. That's what I did to get this here wonderful group I got now. I'll help you with the auditions. You guys can come and stay at my place while you're in Chicago!"
I said, "That's a fantastic idea".
"Wait here. I'm going to call my wife and tell her we've got company."
We were excited. We were getting to stay at the home of Louis Armstrong. And this was only the beginning...
