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Heartstrings

(7,349 posts)
Fri Jun 18, 2021, 05:41 PM Jun 2021

I learned something new today.....

A Jewish family Karnofsky, who immigrated from Lithuania to the United States, took pity on the 7-year-old boy and brought him to their home.
There he stayed and spent the night in this Jewish family home, where for the first time in his life he was treated with kindness and tenderness.
When he went to bed, Mrs Karnovski sang him Russian lullabies, which he sang with her.
Later he learned to sing and play several Russian and Jewish songs.
Over time, this boy became the adopted son of this family.
Mr. Karnofsky gave him money to buy his first musical instrument, as was the custom in Jewish families.
Later, when he became a professional musician and composer, he used these Jewish melodies in compositions such as St. James's Hospital and Go Down Moses.
The little boy grew up and wrote a book about this Jewish family, who adopted him in 1907. And proudly spoke Yiddish fluently.
In memory of this family and until the end of his life, he wore the Star of David and said that in this family he learned "to live a real life and determination."
This little boy's name was Louis Armstrong.

36 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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I learned something new today..... (Original Post) Heartstrings Jun 2021 OP
I thank the Karnofsky family tazkcmo Jun 2021 #1
Do you have a link? madaboutharry Jun 2021 #2
I have a Wikipedia link.... Heartstrings Jun 2021 #5
That was a fascinating page! Drum Jun 2021 #22
The story was told in Ken Burns' Jazz series. sarge43 Jun 2021 #30
What a cute kid he was! Scrivener7 Jun 2021 #3
That smile was his from birth onward, evidently Hekate Jun 2021 #12
Wow! Thanks! That's a really, really, really cool story, one I never heard. n/t. NNadir Jun 2021 #4
Thank you for bringing that uplifting story to us. . . . nt Bernardo de La Paz Jun 2021 #6
Wow! Thanks!!! Karadeniz Jun 2021 #7
Powerful and heartwarming. What a beautiful world. n/t Paper Roses Jun 2021 #8
As in Louie? 😱 SheltieLover Jun 2021 #9
This message was self-deleted by its author RobertDevereaux Jun 2021 #10
Wow Joinfortmill Jun 2021 #11
What a great story! Thank you. Butterflylady Jun 2021 #13
What a wonderful story! Rhiannon12866 Jun 2021 #14
Same smile throughout his life... Historic NY Jun 2021 #15
OMGAWD........this story is insane.....does ANYONE know this??? OMGAWD. a kennedy Jun 2021 #16
Some people know that first song as St James Infirmary ... marble falls Jun 2021 #17
Thank you for posting this Tomconroy Jun 2021 #18
Thank You for Posting this wonderful story. Stuart G Jun 2021 #19
Wow, thanks for sharing... Wounded Bear Jun 2021 #20
Wow! I had never heard this story. TomSlick Jun 2021 #21
Awesome post. Drum Jun 2021 #23
Duke Ellington said this about Louis Armstrong... BobTheSubgenius Jun 2021 #24
He died rich, but much more than that FakeNoose Jun 2021 #34
Kicking for visibility! Niagara Jun 2021 #25
Excellent story, had no idea. Thanks for posting it! JudyM Jun 2021 #26
OMG, I love Louis LittleGirl Jun 2021 #27
Virtuoso trumpet player, too Pinback Jun 2021 #31
Thank you for posting this masterpiece. n/t sarge43 Jun 2021 #32
I never knew that, but I have always loved Satchmo MerryHolidays Jun 2021 #28
Count me among the apparently many uninformed people... 3catwoman3 Jun 2021 #29
He is one of my favorite heroes... Trueblue Texan Jun 2021 #33
as others have said.....wow! bahboo Jun 2021 #35
This sounds like a Paul Harvey piece. "And now you know... the rrrrest of the story!" Beartracks Jun 2021 #36

sarge43

(29,173 posts)
30. The story was told in Ken Burns' Jazz series.
Sat Jun 19, 2021, 10:12 AM
Jun 2021

What a simple act of kindness can accomplish.

Response to Heartstrings (Original post)

BobTheSubgenius

(12,217 posts)
24. Duke Ellington said this about Louis Armstrong...
Fri Jun 18, 2021, 11:56 PM
Jun 2021

"He was born poor, died rich, and ever hurt anyone along the way."

That is just about the best epitaph I've ever heard.

FakeNoose

(41,637 posts)
34. He died rich, but much more than that
Sat Jun 19, 2021, 02:42 PM
Jun 2021

... he is known and loved by everyone. Through his movie performances we've all gotten to know Louie. What a wonderful legacy!

LittleGirl

(8,999 posts)
27. OMG, I love Louis
Sat Jun 19, 2021, 09:56 AM
Jun 2021

I gasped when I read this! I didn’t know.
Now, I have tears in my eyes because I loved him and my favorite song of all time is
“It’s a wonderful world.”

MerryHolidays

(7,715 posts)
28. I never knew that, but I have always loved Satchmo
Sat Jun 19, 2021, 09:59 AM
Jun 2021

It just makes me love him that much more. I don't know a single person in a single country anywhere in the world who doesn't love Louis Armstrong.

What a great story about such a great person...he was beloved everywhere, probably because he learned about love from his adopted family. Thanks so much for posting this little-known fact about such a mega-superstar. I can't believe I didn't know this until today!

An aside: 1964 was the year of The Beatles. They utterly dominated the US (and world) singles and album charts for months. I think they had the number US #1 single for 14 straight weeks.

...and then someone replaced them. And I don't know this for a fact, but I would be pretty sure that John, Paul, George, and Ringo were delighted that it was Louis Armstrong who finally replaced them at Number 1. They probably considered it a mighty honor to be supplanted with this!:

3catwoman3

(29,406 posts)
29. Count me among the apparently many uninformed people...
Sat Jun 19, 2021, 09:59 AM
Jun 2021

...who were completely ignorant of Mr. Armstrong's history.

Most interesting.

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