

Louis Armstrong: Gangsters, the CIA, and Hot Music
Feb 11, 2025
Explore the surprising truth about Louis Armstrong, the jazz legend who influenced music and politics. Discover his connection to organized crime and a CIA coup in Africa. Learn how he used his platform for civil rights activism while facing racial discrimination. Delve into his dangerous performances that were shadowed by mob threats. This tale intertwines music, politics, and resilience, revealing Armstrong's dual life as a cultural ambassador and a man navigating a tumultuous social landscape.
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
1 2 3 4 5 6
Intro
00:00 • 3min
Louis Armstrong: Duality and Resilience
02:52 • 12min
Louis Armstrong's Tumultuous Escape
15:02 • 8min
Protection and Public Image: The Life of Louis Armstrong and Elvis Presley
23:24 • 2min
Jazz Ambassadors and Political Tensions
25:46 • 12min
The Shadows of Chicago: Armstrong's Entanglement with the Mob
37:37 • 3min