“Me and Music Got Married in the Home”

Abstract

This chapter explores Armstrong’s introduction to playing brass instruments in the Colored Waifs’ Home. As he described in his autobiography, he knowingly applied barbershop lines (baritone and tenor voices) to the Alto Horn he was asked to play. He also continued to sing in a barbershop quartet while in the Waifs’ Home with “Kid Shots” Madison, “Kid” Rena, and Red “Happy” Bolton. With the Waifs’ orchestra, Armstrong played “Maryland My Maryland” which he recorded in later life with “Kid” Ory. The relation between the sheet music and the recording is discussed.