Sharon Preston-Folta expands her legacy work through film, radio and community leadership

Sharon Preston-Folta, author and executive producer and the daughter of Louis Armstrong, is marking the fifth anniversary of her documentary Little Satchmo while expanding her work in media, humanities and nonprofit leadership. Her efforts now span international screenings, a memoir reissue, community radio, a new Black Vaudeville project and service to underserved youth.

Why it matters: - Sharon Preston-Folta is turning a private family history into public cultural work that spans film, publishing, radio and community service. - Her projects keep Louis Armstrong’s legacy in view while adding a more personal account of family, identity and resilience. - Her work also extends into education and youth support through nonprofit leadership and public humanities programming.

What happened: - Sharon Preston-Folta was profiled by Influential Women for her work as an author, executive producer, media professional and voiceover artist. - Preston-Folta is the daughter of jazz legend Louis Armstrong. - Her memoir, Little Satchmo: Living in the Shadow of My Father, Louis Daniel Armstrong, was co-written with a professional literary collaborator and independently published. - She served as executive producer and co-narrator of the documentary Little Satchmo. - In 2026, Preston-Folta is celebrating the fifth anniversary of the film’s premiere with screenings at the Croatian International Film Festival and at Café Império in Lisbon. - St. Petersburg Press is republishing Little Satchmo for international distribution.

The details: - Preston-Folta and her mother lived as part of Armstrong’s private family for years, with the relationship kept from the public for decades. - She later chose to share the story publicly after reflecting on the legacy she wanted to leave for her grandchildren. - The memoir became the foundation for a broader public narrative focused on identity, healing and truth-telling. - Little Satchmo gained national attention for its emotional depth and historical significance. - The documentary premiered at the Thessaloniki Documentary Festival in Greece. - The film later appeared on PBS platforms and won a Southeast Emmy Award for Outstanding Historical Documentary. - Preston-Folta has more than 30 years of experience in broadcast media sales across radio, television and publishing. - Her background includes media strategy, client relations and advertising development. - She volunteers every Saturday at Sarasota community radio station WSLR 96.5 FM and hosts Radio Reset. - The show features themed playlists that include jazz, Motown, classic vocalists and contemporary discoveries. - She is developing a humanities project about her mother’s career as a dancer during Black Vaudeville. - The multimedia project includes a biography, a podcast and educational events centered on dances shaped by Black Vaudeville and the Chitlin Circuit. - The inaugural event is scheduled for October 2026 in Sarasota, Florida, in partnership with Sarasota Contemporary Dance. - Preston-Folta earned culinary certifications from the Institute of Culinary Education in New York. - She now serves as board chair and president of Truly Valued, a nonprofit that supports underserved youth.

Between the lines: - Preston-Folta’s career shows how a personal family story can become a broader platform for cultural preservation. - Her memoir, documentary work and humanities project all point to a strategy of using multiple formats to reach different audiences. - Her emphasis on integrity, mentorship and self-publishing suggests a career built outside traditional gatekeeping. - The international screenings and republication signal that interest in Little Satchmo is still widening beyond the original U.S. audience.

What's next: - Preston-Folta’s Black Vaudeville project is set to launch its first event in Sarasota in October 2026. - The international rollout of Little Satchmo will continue through the St. Petersburg Press republication. - Her ongoing radio work and nonprofit leadership suggest she will keep combining storytelling with community service.

The bottom line: - Sharon Preston-Folta is extending a deeply personal family narrative into a broader body of work about truth, memory, culture and public service.