Queens Tribune

The Jazz Heritage Society of New York announced Thursday the release of recordings by jazz legend Louis Armstrong that have never before been available to the public.

The two-CD set will include radio broadcasts, performances with his big band and excerpts from home-recorded tapes made by Armstrong himself.

Armstrong, a native of Queens, is remembered as the legendary trumpet player who changed the course of musical history.

Much of Armstrong’s music and memorabilia is catalogued at the Louis Armstrong Archives at the Queens College. The archives have been open to the public since 1994.

The first disc features Armstrong’s performances from 1937 as the guest host of Rudy Vallee’s Fleishmann’s “Yeast Hour,” one of the most popular radio shows of the time.

According to a press release from the college, these recordings were found in the archives on “18 fragile acetate discs.” The recordings were re-mastered by audio engineer Doug Pomeroy, who specializes in the restoration of jazz recordings.

The second disc is notable for its biographical significance. Taken from 650 reels of home-recorded tape, the recordings give insight to the man behind the musical expertise. Armstrong can be heard practicing his trumpet, speaking to fans and friends and preparing for concerts backstage.

Astoria resident and jazz aficionado Harrison Magee explained that not only do the released recordings extend Armstrong’s renowned body of work – they are historically important.

“[The recordings] capture a historic turning point in the history of race relations in America, well prior to the Civil Right’s Movement,” he said.

To the local community, Armstrong’s legacy is indeed remembered for more than his contributions to the world of jazz.

“The publication of these rarities is a milestone not just for music aficionados, but for our local community as well,” Magee said. “Armstrong was as much a neighborhood icon as he is a musical icon.”

The house where Armstrong and his wife Lucille lived in Corona has been open to the public as a historical house museum since 2003. The museum, which showcases much of the original furnishings of Armstrong’s home, is run by Queens College.

“Armstrong was an iconoclast among his neighbors in Corona as much as in the international spotlight, and with this release his Home and Archives continues to prove that his legacy is in good hands,” Magee said.

The recordings are currently available for purchase at JazzStore.com and will be sold on iTunes beginning August 12.