Sharon Folta
Sharon Preston-Folta is an author, executive producer, media professional, and voiceover artist whose work is deeply rooted in storytelling, legacy, and truth. She is the daughter of legendary jazz musician Louis Armstrong, and for many years she and her mother lived as his private family. Their relationship remained closely held and known only within a small circle, and after his passing during her early life, the family’s connection to him remained largely undisclosed to the public. Years later, after reflecting on the legacy she would leave her grandchildren, Sharon chose to step forward and claim her story, deciding to transform a long-held family history into a published memoir. This decision became the foundation of her work as an author, leading to the creation of Little Satchmo: Living in the Shadow of My Father, Louis Daniel Armstrong, co-written with a professional literary collaborator and published independently, later gaining national media attention.
Her memoir opened the door to a broader creative journey in film and media. Sharon served as Executive Producer and co-narrator of the Emmy Award-winning documentary Little Satchmo, which brought her personal story to the screen through a powerful blend of narration, archival context, and lived experience. The film premiered internationally at the Thessaloniki Documentary Festival in Greece and was later showcased on PBS platforms, earning recognition including a Southeast Emmy Award for Outstanding Historical Documentary. Alongside her creative work, she has maintained a long and successful career in broadcast media sales spanning more than three decades, working with major organizations in radio, television, and publishing, and building expertise in media strategy, client relations, and advertising development.
In her current work, Sharon continues to blend her passion for communication, community, and culture. She volunteers every Saturday at WSLR 96.5 FM community radio in Sarasota, where she hosts a program called Radio Reset, curating themed playlists that span jazz, Motown, classic vocalists, and contemporary music she continually discovers and shares. Her lifelong love of music reflects both her heritage and personal identity, shaping her creative voice across all platforms. In addition, she holds professional culinary certifications from the Institute of Culinary Education in New York and has explored culinary entrepreneurship through her passion for food and healing-centered meal preparation. Sharon also serves on the board of a nonprofit supporting underserved youth, continuing her commitment to service, storytelling, and community impact.
• Professional Culinary and Culinary Management Certificates
• Iona University - BA, Communication Arts
• Emmy for Outstanding Historical Documentary at the Southeast Emmys
• Suncoast Black Arts Collaborative
• Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida
• WSLR 96.5 FM Community Radio Station - Saturday Radio Show Host
• Truly Valued - Board Member for Underserved Youth
• Organizing For America
• Suncoast Women of Action
• Suncoast Black Arts Collaborative, Inc.
• Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, Inc.
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to being genuine and treating others with respect. I believe that everyone deserves to be respected and to have dignity, and my own personal integrity is very important to me. When I decided to tell my story about being the daughter of Louis Armstrong, I wanted to make sure I presented it with truth and respect. I wanted to convey his humanity and show the side of the man, the family side, that's universal - not just his career, but the feeling, concerning person he was. He honored his word to take care of my mother and me, and we were a part of his life. I had to come to terms with all of my feelings and really present the human side. I demand respect, and I can't demand it if I don't give it. My success also comes from standing on faith - when you have faith and you have a vision, you just take one step at a time and just keep walking. Even when I faced rejection from publishing companies in the beginning, I said I'm going to self-publish, and my know-how in broadcasting and the connections helped me get the word out and make things happen.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I received came from one of my sales managers, a very prominent sales manager in my life. This was back when I was grappling with whether I should tell my story and really having a hard time. She said to me, 'You absolutely should tell your story. You don't know how many people you will help by telling your story.' At first, I had a hard time believing it, but the more I thought about it, I said I'm going to take that step. And she was so right, because at film screenings where I've been a part of the Q&A afterwards, people have come up to me and shared just personal things that they're grappling with - finding out about a sister they didn't know about, a child that they had that they weren't paying too much attention to, their own life, their own relationships. They thank me for sharing and being brave enough to share. I was like, wow.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say to search and really ask the important questions - why do I want to get into this industry? Whatever you want to do, it needs to be for reasons other than the trappings that go with the industry. There has to be a deeper meaning and a deeper satisfaction that you feel will come, because if you're going in it for the outer trappings, or the fame, or any of that, the material things, you could be very disappointed very quickly. The amount of rejection and the amount of people who don't share your vision or your enthusiasm will knock you off of what you want to do. You can really get thrown. For me, the rejection from publishing companies in the very beginning didn't stop me - I said I'm going to self-publish. My know-how in broadcasting and the connections helped me get the word out and make things happen. It wasn't because people were cheering me on - they rejected me, but I didn't give up. You have to stand on faith, and when you have a vision, just take one step at a time and just keep walking.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
There are many distractions in this industry that can pull you away from your core purpose. However, staying true to yourself and your values is essential for long-term success. Leading with respect, integrity, and compassion helps you navigate challenges.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that are most important to me are that everyone deserves to be respected and to have dignity. My own personal integrity is essential to who I am. When I decided to tell my story about being the daughter of Louis Armstrong, I wanted to make sure I conveyed respect and his humanity. I wanted to show the side of the man, the family side, that's universal - not just his career as an iconic figure, but the feeling, concerning person he was. He honored his word and said he would take care of my mother and me, and we were a part of his life. I had to come to terms with all of my feelings and really present the human side with integrity. I demand respect, and I can't demand it if I don't give it. I also stand on faith - my faith gives me vision and helps me take one step at a time. I give back to my community through volunteering every Saturday at WSLR 96.5 FM, our community radio station, and I serve on the board of Truly Valued, a non-profit for underserved youth.
Locations
Private Company
Sarasota, FL 34232