Louis Armstrong, the legendary jazz musician, was born into one of the poorest neighborhoods of New Orleans and became one of the most iconic figures in music history.

Known for his humility, radiant smile, and musical genius, he was admired by millions around the world.

In spite of his fame, Armstrong’s personal life was marked by hardship and secret relationships.

Although he married four times, he was believed to have died without biological children.

His first wife, the hot-tempered Daisy Parker, was working as a pro.stit.ut.e when they met. He started an affair as a client and they later tied the knot, in 1919. The pair did not have any biological children, but they made the compassionate decision to adopt a three-year-old boy named Clarence.

In 1924, Louis met Lil Hardin, a pianist and composer. She became Armstrong’s second wife in 1924. However, they divorced in 1938.

Armstrong married Alpha Smith in 1938. Their marriage was relatively short-lived, ending in 1942.

Louis’ fourth and final marriage was to Lucille Wilson in 1942. Lucille was with him until his death in 1971.

However, in December 2012, Sharon Preston-Folta, at the age of 57, stepped forward and claimed that she was his daughter from a 1950s affair between Armstrong and Lucille ”Sweets” Preston, a dancer from Harlem, New York.

In a letter to his manager, Joe Glaser, dated 1955, Armstrong expressed his conviction that Preston’s newborn baby was his daughter. He instructed Glaser to provide a monthly allowance of $400, equivalent to $5,462 in 2022 dollars, to both the mother and child.

All this happened when the trumpeter was married to his fourth wife, Lucille Armstrong. Lucille “Sweets” Preston, a accomplished dancer at the legendary Cotton Club, became Armstrong’s lover following the tragic death of her husband and dance partner, Luther ”Slim” Preston. Armstrong promised to support her and also said that he would leave his wife to marry her.

But according to Sharon and her memoirs, the world famous jazz icon couldn’t openly acknowledge a child born out of an extramarital relationship.

“For anybody back then in the 1950s and ’60s it was taboo,” she told WUSF.

“Just add the fact that Black people were not considered equal and were fighting for civil rights, it would take them back even further.”

Sharon’s birth was kept a secret from the public, although Louis acknowledged her and affectionately dubbed her ”Little Satchmo.” According to Sharon, her father bought their mom a home in Mount Vernon, New York. Occasionally, he would also visit them there, or invite them along on tour to see his shows. She says that he “loved her the best he could.”

But, of course, things were undoubtedly complicated, and it wasn’t easy for young Sharon to grasp the true nature of the situation. When she was younger, it seemed okay, but as she grew older, understanding why she couldn’t see her father whenever she wished became increasingly challenging.

The emotions of having a secretive, distant father were hard to navigate — despite her family’s material prosperity. At the age of 10, the truth finally dawned on her. Sharon was watching the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, where she saw her father discussing his marriage with Lucille.

“So it was really confusing, which led to anger, and then also led to, well, I need to be self-sufficient,” she said.

In 2022, Sharon shared her story again – this time on the screen in the documentary Little Satchmo. In the film, Louis Armstrong is heard talking about Sharon, and letters written from father to daughter are also showcased.

“Whatever college she wishes to go to I’ve got her covered,” Louis wrote to Sharon’s mom.

“All she have to do is finish high school and that’s where I step in. As long as Ol’ Satchmo lives, her happiness is assured. P.S. If I die, she will be straight just the same.”

Sadly, the contact between her mother and Louis dwindled in the final years leading up to his death. Sharon expressed her wish that the documentary will aid in conveying that her father was a multifaceted individual rather than a mere caricature of an entertainer.

“Remember the genius that he was, that he was a multi-dimensional human being, he loved deeply, and that my mother and I were a part of his life as much as anything else was in his life,” she said.

With his iconic songs and instantly recognizable rich, gravelly voice, Armstrong’s legacy continues to resonate, reminding us that greatness can rise from the most unlikely beginnings.

At the same time, there was, of course, another intriguing aspect of this man that I actually had no idea about. Did you know that Louis Armstrong had a secret daughter? Feel free to share this article on Facebook.