Louis Armstrong's Daughter Reissues Memoir for Bandleader's 125th Birthday

Sharon Preston-Folta has released an updated edition of her memoir, "Little Satchmo," coinciding with the 125th anniversary of Louis Armstrong's birth. The Sarasota resident reissued the book through St. Petersburg Press to align the publication with the documentary film adaptation of her story, which aired on PBS and won a Southeastern Emmy Award.

The narrative details the decades-long secret of Armstrong's relationship with vaudeville dancer Lucille "Sweets" Preston, Sharon's mother. Armstrong, who remained married to his fourth wife, Lucille, until his death in 1971, began his affair with Preston in the early 1950s. Sharon was born on June 24, 1955. Although Armstrong never publicly acknowledged his daughter, he directed his manager to provide monthly support and visited frequently in the New York area.

In November 1962, Armstrong purchased a house in Mount Vernon, New York, for Preston and Sharon. He also promised to cover Sharon's college education, a commitment reflected in a letter where he wrote, "Whatever college she wishes to go to I've got her covered." Preston-Folta notes that her mother believed Armstrong would eventually leave his wife to marry her, a transition that never occurred before the bandleader died still in his fourth marriage.

Preston-Folta first self-published the memoir in 2012, 41 years after Armstrong's death. She describes the writing process as a way to process the secrecy and shame of growing up in a family structure that differed from her peers. "The secrecy led to the shame, because I had so many questions that weren't answered," she said. The book explores the emotional journey of forgiving her father and owning her legacy without the burden of unspoken family history.

Her mother, who died in 2020 at age 98, initially opposed the book, fearing public judgment. Preston-Folta convinced her that the story was her right to tell. "You were well taken care of, she said. Your father provided for you," Preston-Folta recalled. Her mother eventually came to accept the narrative, attending several appearances and observing the positive reception from audiences.

The updated edition ends with a letter to her mother, whereas the original concluded with a letter to Armstrong. Preston-Folta, who holds a bachelor's degree in communication arts from Iona University, previously pursued a legal claim to her heritage but abandoned the effort after Lucille Armstrong died in 1983. The original wife had signed a document stating she had no children, leaving a limited estate to contest.

Preston-Folta now works as a consultant and voiceover artist. The reissue serves as a final chapter in her personal history, allowing her to share the full scope of her relationship with one of jazz's most famous figures. The book remains a personal account of identity, family dynamics, and the complexities of fame in the mid-20th century.