I was introduced to Sharon Preston-Folta, the only daughter of legendary jazz musician Louis Armstrong, to discuss and get professional direction for my Music People Project film.

Getting to know Sharon over the last few months via email, text, phone (she lives in Florida, but will never call herself a Floridian…) and eventual meeting her in New York for lunch and an interview at my office was an incredibly memorable event for me. It’s not every day you get to ramble about music (my favorite activity) with music royalty. More enjoyable though is that I have a new music friend. I hope Sharon feels the same way.

Sharon’s award-winning documentary “Little Satchmo” (website) on her life as the secret daughter one of America’s most revered artists is widely available now on Apple TV.   With the help of producer John Alexander, Sharon finally broke the silence and in captivating fashion shares her story through intimate letters and tape recordings from her dad. Go watch her movie “Little Satchmo”!

Through publicity for the film and a new found semi-celebrity status, Sharon has conducted many interviews over the last two years. It was my intent to structure the Music People Project interview in a unique way and be a complement to the film.  I think we accomplished this… but you can be the judge of that.

Click on the image below or here to visit Music People Project website and watch her interview.

In this article, I am not going to give you play-by-play on her documentary (just see her movie or read one of the reviews like this one) or my interview (yes, you should watch it too – click here for that).  Rather, I want to make a few points I found interesting, and focus on the event…

Sharon is a DJ at WSLR-FM (96.5) in Sarasota, FL

1) Despite her struggles associated with being abandoned by one of the most loved personalities in American history, raised by a single mother, and becoming a single mother herself at 17 years old… Sharon speaks fondly about her father and is a hugely positive lady. Maybe time has healed the wounds, but I give her a ton of credit for her ability to share these stories and put herself out there.

2) Sharon only recently visited New Orleans to visit with the jazz community that worships Louie. Her film was very well received. I must say, there is a disconnect with this non-relationship to New Orleans that we talked about some and still baffles me. New Orleans is heaven for music people, and she would be considered grand queen when in town.

3) The film does not give her accordian playing enough creds. She may have been the only young black accordion playing gal in America. Certainly a trail blazer. I’d love to see her try and play a ditty one day. Unfortunetely, my accordion is in need of repair.

4) There are several wonderful stories she shared with me in our interview that are not in her film such as…

Her father’s respect and interest for Barbara Streisand. Odd couple indeed.

Details on the legendary Jones Beach show with Guy Lombardo in which Satchmo entertained the crowd for hours after the show with various renditions of his gem “Hello Dolly”.

Seeing the sincere happiness and smile on Sharon’s face when she talked about her first real concerts in NYC with best friend (Jody) to see Al Jarreau at the Savoy uptown and Boz Scaggs at the Beacon. Although it didn’t make into my published interview, her reminiscing about her favorite teen car cruising in Peekskill just north of NYC to smooth jazz radio was memorable for me.