Thirty-Two Pin Cushions

 

Their last name was Karnofsky, but Louis always referred to them as “my Jewish family.” He met them when he was seven. The Karnofskys adopted Louis like a stray cat. In their home, he acquired a taste for Jewish cuisine that would stay with him his whole life. Louis’ first job was working for the Karnofskys, helping their sons collect rubbish and deliver coal. On one of these trips, they passed a used B-flat cornet in a pawn shop window. It was selling for $5; far beyond Louis’ reach. The Karnofskys helped Louis save up enough to buy this treasure, which he used to earn more money playing in pubs and bars. Louis Armstrong would grow to be the first super star of jazz. He always wore a Star of David to honor the family who had taken him in. He was proud to speak fluent Yiddish. His nickname, Satchmo, comes from the Yiddish word for “fat cheeks.”