Howard Armstrong (Finding Aid)

Howard Armstrong

1909 - 2003

Favorite Color: Dark Colors

Favorite Food: Vegetables

Favorite Time of Year: Summer

Favorite Vacation Spot: Hawaii

Interview Length: 177 minutes

Interview Date(s): April 12, 2003

Interview Location(s): The Piano Factory, Boston, Massachusetts

Abstract

Howard Armstrong lists his favorites and details his family origins. Armstrong then recalls his paternal grandparents being of Scotch-Irish descent. He then talks about his father being an ex-slave and both parents coming from African and Native American origins. Later he talks about his father's personality and shares a tale about his father's work in the blast furnaces in La Follette, Tennessee. Armstrong then talks about his mother's strict religious beliefs and the Bible stories he read to his mother. Lastly, he details how his father, after changing jobs, introduced him to performing music in public. Howard Armstrong talks about his parents, his eight siblings and their musical abilities. He then recalls his mother's job as a head cook in a hotel and his early exposure to finer dining. Armstrong then details his meeting opera star, Grace Moore, and earning money while performing music with his brothers. He then lightly reflects on his high school experience and finally details his experiences in college at Tennessee State University in Nashville. Howard Armstrong gives his views about religion in relation to growing up where the Scopes "Monkey Trial" occurred. He then talks more about growing up in a strict religious household. Armstrong then talks about his desire to pursue a professional music career and the other musicians he met along the way. He later talks about forming a quartet with Ted Bogan, Carl Martin and Bill Ballinger and their experiences on the road. Finally, Armstrong talks about his group's decision to perform music in foreign languages and the advantages it presented. Howard Armstrong talks more about his musical group and the experiences they encountered while performing at the Century of Progress fair in Chicago in 1933. He then discusses his change in jobs, his move to Hawaii and witnessing the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Armstrong then talks about his return to Tennessee and details how he met his first wife. He then talks about reuniting with his musical group in Chicago. Finally, Armstrong talks about getting the urge to travel and going to Detroit without his family. Howard Armstrong talks about his experiences as a musician and his thoughts about modern black music. He then talks about what he hopes his legacy might be and if he would have lived his life differently. Armstrong then recalls his favorite musicians, past and present. Howard Armstrong shares extensively his philosophy about marriage. He later recalls his music group's reunion in his hometown of La Follette, Tennessee. Lastly, Howard Armstrong, with the help of his wife Barbara Ward Armstrong, describes the photographs he provided. Howard Armstrong with his wife, Barbara Ward Armstrong, describe the drawings and photographs he provided. Howard Armstrong, with his wife Barbara Ward Armstrong, describe more of the photographs he provided.

92 Stories (See Ordered Story Set)