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Lil Hardin Armstrong

Timeline

While researching Lil, I found it difficult to keep all of the recording dates and major life events straight in my mind. I created a timeline to help me keep the chronology in order. This is definitely not comprehensive- in particular the copyright dates- but it gives you a rough idea of the major events in her fascinating life. Start to finish, she kept busy!

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Most of the graphics have a link or a hover effect. To truly ascend to the next base camp, one must click through all of the images.

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Born

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Started playing piano

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Graduated Kortrecht
High School

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Won a piano
competition

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Went to college at Fisk University

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Moved to Chicago

Married
Jimmie Johnson

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Travels to San Fransisco w/ King Oliver's band

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Returns to Chicago to play with Mae Brady's band at Dreamland Cafe

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Composes and copyrights "Sweet Lovin Man"

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May 28

Cheesecake, figs, and pinot noir.

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Marries Louis Armstrong

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Honeymoon: 3-week tour w/ Oliver Band

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Buys home in Chicago for her and Louis

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Lil's Dreamland Syncopators start residency at Dreamland

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Earns teaching degree at Chicago Musical College

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Performs recital for Louis Victor (professor at Chicago Musical College)

Earns post- graduate degree

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Travels to California w/ Louis

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Studies arranging w/ Zilner T. Randolph

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Composes and copyrights "Just for a Thrill"

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Lil's All Girl Orchestra plays Lafayette Theater

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Tours New England w/ her Harlem Band

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Lil's All Girl Orchestra plays the Apollo Theater

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Creates new band w/ members of Stuff Smith's band

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Becomes house pianist for Decca Records

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Opens Lil's Armstrong's Swing Shack in Chicago

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Join New York division of the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women's Club

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Starts playing with Dixielanders of Lil Hardin Armstrong

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Becomes a major donor for the Bud Billiken Parade in Chicago

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Makes her New York debut as a clothing designer

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Moves to Paris

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Tours Europe w/ Sidney Bechet and Zutty Singleton

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Returns to Chicago

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Tours Canada w/ Red Saunders

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Starts work on autobiography

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King Oliver's Band records for Gennett

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Red Onion Jazz Babies record for Gennett

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First Hot 5 recording for Okeh

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New Orleans Wanderers
for Columbia

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Hot 5 records as Lil's Hotshots for Vocalion

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First Hot 7 recording

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Blue Yodel #9 w/ Jimmie Rodgers

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Records "New Orleans in Paris" for Vogue Records

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Lil Hardin and Her Swing Orchestra

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Lil Hardin and Her Swing Orchestra

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Johnny Dodds and his Chicago Boys

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Lil Hardin and Her Swing Orchestra

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Tiny Mayberry

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Frankie Half-Pint Jaxon

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Rosetta Howard

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Alberta Hunter

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Blue Lu Barker

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Helen Proctor

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Frankie Half-Pint Jaxon

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Lil Armstrong and her Dixielanders

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Peetie Wheatstraw

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Lee Brown

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Red Allen Orchestra

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Zutty Singleton Orchestra

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Johnnie Temple

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Peetie Wheatstraw

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Johnny Dodds Trio

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Lizzie Miles

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Johnny Dodds Orchestra

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Lillian Armstrong

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The Rippers

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Lil "Brown Gal" Armstrong and her All Star Band

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Chicago: Living Legends for Riverside Records

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Tours the East Coast with Connie's Hot Chocolates

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Takes first tailoring class in NYC

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Featured on Chicago and All That Jazz

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Regular stint at the Red Arrow

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Composes and Copyrights Eastown Boogie

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Composes and Copyrights Walkin on Air and other tunes with Avon Long

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Composes and Copyrights You Let Me Down Easy and other tunes

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Lil's mother, Dempsey passes away

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Lil passes away just one month after Louis

Meets Louis Armstrong

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Forms Lil and Her International Jazz Kings

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