Daughter of Louis Armstrong to Discuss Life, Her Book in Lecture at USF Sarasota-Manatee

SARASOTA – The next part of Lifelong Learning Academy's "Lecture Series" will feature the only child of Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong, Sharon Preston-Folta, and will take place on Thursday, March 24 at the Selby Auditorium at USF's Sarasota-Manatee.

As the author of "Little Satchmo: Living in the Shadow of My Father, Louis Daniel Armstrong," Preston-Folla will talk about her life as Armstong's secret daughter until 2012, when she released her book and revealed all.

Preston-Folla was born by Armstrong and his extramarital lover Lucille Preston, who were in an affair for decades. Born out of wedlock, her biological link to Armstrong was hidden for decades for the stated purpose of preserving her father's reputation. She brought the revelation to light in 2012, as she felt could no longer hide her family history.
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"Not knowing your family history is painful enough. Being forced to keep it a secret, to pretend you are not who you really are, well, that sears," she said in a press release.

"While Sharon Preston-Folta’s story is extraordinary because of who her father was, it also strikes a universal chord touching upon generations of offspring who have grown up in fatherless households, searching for an understanding of their own blood, their own DNA, their own legacy," said Janna Overstreet, executive director of Lifelong Learning Academy, in a statement.

The University of South Florida's Sarasota-Manatee campus is located at 8350 North Tamiami Trail in Sarasota. Admission is $10 (the event is free to LLA members). Registration for the event is required; to do so in advance, go to www.LLA-SM.org or call 941-359-4296. People wishing to attend can also register at the event as long as there are still seats available.