Louie Bluie
William Howard Taft Armstrong, known as Louie Bluie, was born on March 4, 1909,
in Dayton, Tennessee. He taught himself to play the fiddle and joined a band led
by Blind Roland Martin and his brother Carl Martin. In 1930, as part of the
Tennessee Chocolate Drops, Armstrong recorded for Vocalion Records. The group
toured extensively, backing musicians like Big Bill Broonzy and Memphis Minnie.
After serving in World War II, he moved to Detroit and worked in the auto
industry until 1971. With a revival of interest in old-time African-American
music, Armstrong reunited with Martin an...
