Sharon Preston-Folta reissues memoir for Louis Armstrong's 125th birthday
The updated edition of 'Little Satchmo' coincides with the jazz legend's 125th birth year and the anniversary of her documentary film.
By Noah Ross ·
Sharon Preston-Folta, the secret daughter of jazz legend Louis Armstrong, has reissued her memoir to coincide with the 125th anniversary of her father's birth.
Armstrong never publicly acknowledged Sharon, who was born on June 24, 1955, to vaudeville dancer Lucille 'Sweets' Preston. The couple began their relationship in the early 1950s while performing together at the Cotton Club in Harlem. Armstrong, who was married to another woman named Lucille, provided monthly financial support and visited the family regularly. He purchased a home for them in Mount Vernon, New York, in November 1962, the twelfth year of their relationship.
Preston-Folta first published 'Little Satchmo: Living in the Shadow of My Father' in 2012, four decades after Armstrong's death in 1971. The book was adapted into a PBS documentary that won a Southeastern Emmy Award in 2024. St. Petersburg Press is publishing the updated version now. Preston-Folta, a resident of Sarasota, described the timing as a chance to combine the book and film into a single, upgraded presentation for the 125th birthday milestone.
The new edition expands on the personal dynamics of the family. Preston-Folta notes that her mother, who died in 2020 at age 98, initially resisted the story but later attended book and film events. Preston-Folta explains that the secrecy caused shame during her childhood, but writing the book allowed her to process those emotions. 'The universal story is forgiveness, and owning the experience without the shame,' she said in the text.
The updated book ends with a letter to her mother, whereas the original concluded with a letter to Armstrong. Preston-Folta also details a legal claim she pursued for her share of the estate, which did not succeed. Lucille Armstrong, who had signed a document stating her husband had no children, died in 1983. Preston-Folta stated that by taking action, she worked through the hurt of not being acknowledged.
Preston-Folta holds a degree in Communication Arts from Ioana University. She spent nine years as an Account Executive at WUSF before moving to Sarasota. She now works as a consultant and voiceover artist. The reissue marks the end of a long effort to tell her family's story to the public.
Source: St. Pete Catalyst
