[Dixielandjazz] Trummy

rahberry at comcast.net rahberry at comcast.net
Wed Aug 10 06:37:06 PDT 2005


I read in at least one biography of Louis that he thought it was wonderful that white people called him Louie.
~Rae Ann


> Phil O'Rourke asks:
> 
> >Why do people on this list spell Louis Armstrong's name "Louie"?
> 
> It's not just on this list . . .
> 
> "Louie" is the diminutive of "Louis" and is often used in place of the 
> actual name.  I'm aware of the fact the Armstrong almost always referred to 
> himself as "Louis" rather than "Louie" and it may have been Armstrong's 
> preference that he be referred to as "Louis."
> 
> I have heard the name "Louie" used by people everywhere referring to 
> Armstrong and it is, indeed, in fairly common usage among jazz fans and 
> music lovers throughout the realm.
> 
> I can, however, say that certainly no disrespect is intended when people 
> call him "Louie."  Quite the opposite - using the diminutive of a person's 
> name is often an expression of fondness for the individual.
> 
> I wouldn't want to make a federal case out of this issue and I really don't 
> regard it as a "big deal" . . . and a "Louis" by any other name would sound 
> as sweet . . . how about "Pops" and/or "Satchmo."
> 
> Respectfully submitted,
> 
> Billy Gunter
> jazzboard at hotmail.com
> 
> ps - My personal preference for my name is "William" - except among my 
> friends.  Actually "William" is what my mother used to call me when she was 
> angry with me (which was often).
> 
> ps#2 - It's probably not a big deal either that you're generally called 
> "Phil" rather than "Phillip." Again, diminutives are not a sign of 
> disrespect.
> 
> 
> 
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