Save the Date! 12th Annual Satchmo SummerFest

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Angelique Hill
(504) 227-3126
angelique@fqfi.org

New Orleans, Louisiana (May 11, 2012) - Save the date for Satchmo SummerFest - August 3-5, 2012 presented by French Quarter Festivals, Inc. The premier American Jazz Festival dedicated to the life, legacy, and music of New Orleans' native son, Satchmo SummerFest will feature three days of fascinating seminars about the history and influence of jazz music in New Orleans and discussions about the life and talent of Louis Armstrong. Satchmo SummerFest is held annually at the Louisiana State Museum's Old U.S. Mint.

During the festival, visitors can also enjoy 'Preservation Hall at 50' - a commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Preservation Hall through artifacts, photographs, posters, handbills, flyers, newspaper articles, phonograph records, film and audio clips, interviews, and oral histories. The exhibit is located on the second floor of the Old U.S. Mint.

Satchmo SummerFest is free and open to the public. Stages feature music from some of New Orleans' finest traditional jazz, contemporary jazz, and brass bands, as well as children's programming. The stage areas will also feature 'Satchmo in the Shade' - tented areas where festival goers can enjoy music and food away from the summer heat.

Satchmo SummerFest hosts special events including: Sunday morning Jazz Mass at the historic St. Augustine Church in Treme; a traditional second line parade; traditional jazz dance lessons; and a Trumpet Tribute to close the festival. The festival also features authentic local cuisine from the area's finest restaurants to create 'Red Bean Alley.'

Visitors should book hotel rooms early to take advantage of rates starting at just $89 per night in the French Quarter and New Orleans downtown area.

About Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong was born in New Orleans in an area known as 'Back o' Town.' Throughout his career, he entertained millions - from heads of state and royalty to the kids on his stoop in Corona, New York. Despite his fame, he lived a simple life in a working-class neighborhood. The man known around the world as 'Satchmo' was widely recognized as a founding father of jazz - a uniquely American art form. His influence, as an artist and cultural icon, is universal, unmatched, and very much alive today. Armstrong was a charismatic, innovative performer whose improvised soloing was the main influence for a fundamental change in jazz. One of the most famous musicians of the 20th century, he was first known as a cornet player, then as a trumpet player, and toward the end of his career he was best known as a vocalist and influential jazz singer. The nickname 'Satchmo' is short for 'Satchelmouth.' In 1932, Melody Maker magazine editor Percy Brooks greeted Armstrong in London with "Hello, Satchmo!" and the nickname stuck.

For more information on all FQFI festivals and events visit our website at www.fqfi.org or call 504-522-5730.

Satchmo SummerFest is produced by French Quarter Festivals, Inc. (www.fqfi.org), the 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization, which also produces French Quarter Festival in April and Christmas New Orleans Style in December. French Quarter Festivals, Inc. promotes the Vieux Carré and the City of New Orleans through high quality special events and activities that showcase the culture and heritage of this unique city, contribute to the economic well being of the community, and instill increased pride in the people of New Orleans.

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