By Terry Teachout
Review by Sarah Block

The man we all remember as Satchmo left this world as a superstar, but it all began right here in New Orleans, in the heart of the Storyville slums, where he picked up his first cornet. The rest is history, a rich one, in fact, that Teachout has managed to piece together for Pops: A Life of Louis Armstrong in a narrative that serves as a testament for those who weren’t around during the Armstrong era, and a reminder for those that were. He describes the genius of Satchmo, who won over America’s heart through his melodies that were mastered over a background of constantly-evolving mid-20th century artistic culture.
Teachout, a music critic and cultural historian, describes in great detail throughout the book the dynamic historical context behind many of the musician’s titles put out over the airwaves; there is no shortage of stories that highlight Armstrong’s volatile romantic relationships, his Hollywood dabbles, experiences with stiff racial tension in the south, or dealings with pressure within the biz to conform to popular demand. The behind-the-scenes detail is inlayed with bits and pieces of articulate technical descriptions of his songs. Jazz-savvy or not, Teachout’s biography is a good read on the life and character of the man with the satchel mouth and the tunes that built his legacy.