Stomp Off, Let's Go

The Early Years of Louis Armstrong

By: Ricky Riccardi

Narrated by: Bill Andrew Quinn

How did Louis Armstrong become Louis Armstrong?

In Stomp Off, Let's Go, author and Armstrong expert Ricky Riccardi tells the enthralling story of the iconic trumpeter's meteoric rise to fame. Beginning with Armstrong's youth in New Orleans, Riccardi transports listeners through Armstrong's musical and personal development, including his initial trip to Chicago to join Joe "King" Oliver's band, his first to New York to meet Fletcher Henderson, and his eventual return to Chicago, where he changed the course of music with the Hot Five and Hot Seven recordings.

While this period of Armstrong's life is perhaps more familiar than others, Riccardi enriches extant narratives with recently unearthed archival materials, including a rare draft of pianist, composer, and Armstrong's second wife Lillian "Lil" Hardin Armstrong's autobiography. Riccardi similarly tackles the perceived notion of Armstrong as a "sell-out" during his later years, highlighting the many ways in which Armstrong's musical style and personal values in fact remained steady throughout his career. By foregrounding the voices of Armstrong and his contemporaries, Stomp Off, Let's Go offers a more intimate exploration of Armstrong's personal and professional relationships, in turn providing essential insights into how Armstrong evolved into one of America's most beloved icons.

©2025 Ricky Riccardi (P)2025 Tantor Media

Excellent

Excellent writing, scholarship, and narration. An essential text for those seeking insights into jazz in the first decades of the 20th century. Highly recommended!

Wonderfully read!

Hi, author here—just wanted to say that Bill Andrew Quinn did justice to my words in bringing the story of young Louis Armstrong to life. Great job!

A fascinating examination of early Louis Armstrong and his rise to pop stardom.

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this book. Ricky Riccardi has brought this period of Louis Armstrong's life into focus through this peerless research.
The narration by Quinn was spot on!

Why?!?!

It never fails. Every time I’ve listened to a book about New Orleans I have to hear half the streets mispronounced. It seems lazy not to research how to pronounce our words. I could understand if New Orleans wasn’t WELL known for having a unique vernacular, but that is common knowledge. Just please pronounce our words correctly if reading out loud is your job.