St. Petersburg Press Reissues Little Satchmo Memoir
The updated book by Louis Armstrong's daughter marks the 125th anniversary of the legendary jazz icon's birth.
Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Jazz
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St. Petersburg Press has reissued Little Satchmo, a memoir by Sharon Preston-Folta that recounts her life as the daughter of jazz legend Louis Armstrong. This 2026 release adds a concluding letter to her mother and coincides with the 125th anniversary of Armstrong's birth.
Why it matters
Preston-Folta updated her original 2012 account to ensure her personal history is preserved without the secrecy that once surrounded her parentage. By sharing her truth, she aims to break a cycle of family secrets for the benefit of her grandchildren.
The original memoir was first published in 2012, 12 years prior to the current 2026 reissue. The memoir-based documentary previously achieved commercial recognition by winning a Southeastern Emmy Award.
The players
Sharon Preston-Folta
She is the daughter of Louis Armstrong and the author of the memoir Little Satchmo.
Louis Armstrong
He was an iconic American jazz trumpeter and vocalist whose career spanned several decades.
St. Petersburg Press
This is a publishing entity based in St. Petersburg, Florida, that produces regional and historical literary works.
Lucille 'Sweets' Preston
She was the mother of Sharon Preston-Folta and lived to the age of 98.
The details
Preston-Folta, a Sarasota resident who worked for nine years at WUSF, includes new reflections in this edition to honor her mother, Lucille 'Sweets' Preston. The narrative covers historical family milestones, including the house Armstrong purchased for them in Mount Vernon, New York, in 1962.
Timeline
June 24, 1955: Sharon Preston-Folta was born.
November 1962: Louis Armstrong bought a house in Mount Vernon, New York, for his daughter and her mother.
1971: Jazz icon Louis Armstrong died.
1983: Lucille Armstrong died.
2026: St. Petersburg Press reissued the memoir Little Satchmo.
Industry Dynamics
This reissue reflects a broader trend in the entertainment industry of leveraging anniversary milestones to recontextualize the legacies of 20th-century music icons. It positions personal, first-hand accounts against established biographical records to shift the focus toward family history.
Readers can access this updated personal account through the St. Petersburg Press distribution channels. This edition provides a new, finalized perspective on the Armstrong family narrative for those interested in jazz history and personal memoir.
The takeaway
Preston-Folta's memoir illustrates the importance of documenting personal history to prevent family narratives from being lost to time. Readers interested in their own family legacy may find value in the process of codifying personal truths into written records.
Further reading
Explore more local and historical perspectives in the Jazz section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by St Pete Catalyst.
Live Poll
Is it better to keep long-held family secrets or to openly confront them?
