Mr. Armstrong's Handkerchief

brassbow · Veteran Member Joined: 05 Aug 2005 Posts: 404

I remember reading that he kept a hanky to hide his alternative fingerings, not because of hiding his ideas. Since he was mostly self taught he was self cconscience when playing next to a " learned" player using the right fingerings and didnt want to be seen as a lesser player. As an observation in his later years he used it as a prop. Much like James Brown using the mike or a cape to ad "show" to his performance, Satch would play a fast lick and dry his face as if to say" WHEW THATS A WORK OUT"
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Zues cornet
R Stewart Eb bugle
Holton collegiate trumpet
Continental baritone
Clevland Inst. co. mellophone
G/F valveless trumpet
C/Bb valveless herald's trumpet
Eb Grand Rapids ( york) tuba
gemshorn
YES I PLAY THEM ALL!!!

Robert Rowe · Posted: Fri Apr 28, 2006 4:42 am Post subject:

Sooner-or-later, a handkerchief tends to get used to wipe tears, &/or to blow the nose.

Robt
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~ Love animals ... don't eat them. ~

I miss Genghis Khan ....

DWHass · Posted: Fri Apr 28, 2006 7:19 am Post subject:

Hiding the fingerings, wiping sweat, wiping blood, these are all known quantum theories of the reasons for the famous hankerchief.

Louis was so far future thinking that he used the hankerchief to hide the serial numbers of his various horns to frustrate future eBay snipers.
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David Hass
1915 Blessing
1919 Holton (alto horn),
1957 Conn 18B Coprion,
1966 Selmer (cornet),
2005 Blessing B155S flugel,
Rexcraft Bugle
Bach, Giardinelli mpcs
North Valley Chamber Orchestra
Bugles Across America member

sweets · Veteran Member Joined: 13 Jan 2005 Posts: 337

wvtrumpet

We all know that Louis liked his gage. My favorite story-- it was recently told me by a famous novelist -- was that Louis was on the same flight as the then Vice-President Richard Nixon. Nixon was a huge Armstrong fan-- had all his records -- and he went up to Louis to shake his hand and congratulate him. He said if there was anything he could do for him , it would be a pleasure. Louis replied that it would a great honor if Nixon would carry his trumpet off the plane, which the vice president did. And guess was Satchmo also had in his trumpet case...... Some other time I will recount my Nixon and Billie Holliday story.....

cleanhead77 · Posted: Fri Apr 28, 2006 8:10 am Post subject:

That Billie Holiday story was Clinton, not Nixon..........
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So many horns, so little time........
I agree - Love Animals, don't eat them.

sweets · Veteran Member Joined: 13 Jan 2005 Posts: 337

Cleanhead,

Okay, here it is, though it no longer has a punch-line. After her death, Billie's husband, a pimp and low-lifer, was charged with homicide. He needed the best lawyers in town to get him off, and his only assets were the copyright to Billie's music. He approached big NY law firm, and the lawyer who negotiated the deal was none other than Tricky Dick, who I guess was always the music lover. A true story.

urbie watrous · Posted: Fri Apr 28, 2006 2:49 pm Post subject:

Hovs · Regular Member Joined: 09 Feb 2006 Posts: 51

I just recently had the privilage of hearing Marcus Belgraves do an Armstrong tribute. he as well used the cloth to wipe off his lips/head/anything that got sweaty.