[Dixielandjazz] Louis Armstrong pronounced his name "Lewis"

[Steve barbone]

Note that most of those you cite who called him Louie are white. :-) VBG.

Actually, I doubt if Pops cared much one way or the other what people called
him. However, HE REFERRED TO HIMSELF as Louis, pronounced "LEWIS" and that
was referenced in the title of the post.

Many names are pronounced differently by different people. Mine, Barbone, is
pronounced Bar Bone by me as the name, while Italian, derives from the
French and Spanish families who ruled Italy at various times, plus it makes
for a easily recognizable band name.

My wife and many friends pronounce it as Bar Boni. Family members pronounce
it both ways plus some as Bar Boneh.

Like Louis, I don't care how it is pronounced by others and would agree with
you that most folks, at least in the USA these days, call him Looie. Perhaps
50 years from now, everybody will call him Looie because of the pressure of
common usage. 

I just related what I was told upon meeting the man and talking with members
of his band about it at the time. And noted what he said, in his many vocal
renditions of "Hello Dolly" circa 1960's until his passing.

Me? I called him "Pops" to his face when I met him and that seemed just fine
with him.

Cheers,
Steve

on 8/27/05 10:25 AM, Thompson at rebecca.e.thompson at verizon.net wrote:

> This has been discussed over and OVER on this list....and I have asked
> several close personal  friends of Louis/Louie/Pops/Satchmo what they called
> him..........  AND they all gave me the names listed.  HOWEVER when they
> refer to him in speaking, they ALWAYS say Louie.  Some people I have asked
> are Louie's neighbor, Selma (sorry can't think of her last name), George
> Avakian, Dan Morgensturn, Peanuts Hucko and any others I find when we attend
> the annual SatchmoSummerfest.
> 
> Guess ol' Pops just went around upset with all his associates!!!!! ;-))
> 
> Rebecca Thompson
> Flower Mound, TX 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Steve barbone [mailto:barbonestreet at earthlink.net]
> 
> "Young man, call him Satch or Pops, but not Louie. Only people who don't
> know any better call him Louie. You want to considered in the know, call him
> Lewis, or better, since you are a jazz musician, call him "POPS" as a sign
> of respect."