Lil Hardin Armstrong

The first major woman jazz instrumentalist, Lil Hardin Armstrong can still be heard performing on some vintage jazz albums. She also made a lasting contribution to jazz when she took a young Louis Armstrong under her guidance, taught him to dress better, talked him into moving on from a band where he played second cornet, and helped launch his career. Their marriage didn't last, and her fame faded, but her role in his career and in early jazz is being recognized more in recent years.

• Lil Hardin Armstrong