New Orleans born Louis Armstrong began performing with local jazz bands at the age of 13. His mentor was the godfather of Jazz himself, King Oliver, who found the young Armstrong gigs with various bands before taking him on himself in the early 20s. By the end of the decade, Armstrong had moved to New York and joined Fletcher Henderson's orchestra. By 1927 he had his own band -- the Hot Five, which became the Hot Seven. It was around this time he gained the nickname "Satchmo" -- short for "Satchel Mouth" -- thanks to his hugely inflated cheeks while playing. By the 1930s, he was the hottest Jazz musician in the world. - Container.