Lil Hardin Day celebrates leadership, creativity, and the enduring influence of family and collaboration in shaping innovation and preserving legacy.

Lil Hardin Armstrong was a pioneering jazz pianist, composer, and bandleader whose talent and vision helped shape the early years of jazz. As one of the first prominent women in jazz, she broke barriers in a male-dominated industry with her extraordinary skill and creativity.

Hardin was a key member of King Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band, where she met and later married Louis Armstrong, playing a pivotal role in advancing his career.

Beyond her collaborations, Hardin was an accomplished composer, penning classics like “Struttin’ with Some Barbecue” and “Hotter Than That,” which remain jazz standards. Her leadership as a bandleader and arranger showcased her ability to innovate and elevate the genre. Lil Hardin Armstrong’s contributions to jazz extend far beyond her remarkable musicianship, cementing her legacy as a trailblazer who helped define the sound of an era.