ARMSTRONG Louis (A-47)

American trumpeter, composer, vocalist and occasional actor who was one of the most influential figures in jazz. His career spanned five decades, from the 1920s to the 1960s, and different eras in the history of jazz. Armstrong was a foundational influence in jazz, shifting the focus of the music from collective improvisation to solo performance. Armstrong is renowned for his charismatic stage presence and voice almost as much as for his trumpet playing. Armstrong's influence extends well beyond jazz, and by the end of his career in the 1960s, he was widely regarded as a profound influence on popular music in general. In 2017, he was inducted into the Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame.

Armstrong stated that he was born on July 4, 1900. Although he died in 1971, it was not until the mid-1980s that his true birth date, August 4, 1901, was discovered by researching baptismal records. So why memorial and early commemorative medals bear the birth date of 1900.