Louis Armstrong was born in New Orleans in 1901 and by the time he was eleven had begun his foray into a career of music. By the end of his teenage years he had joined the vibrant jazz scene in Chicago, before eventually settling in New York. It would be hard to understate Armstrong's influence on jazz and popular music (even more so in a single paragraph), but he changed the way the trumpet was played, moved jazz from an ensemble oriented form into one where solo performances were more of a focus, and his inimitable vocal style certainly helped pave the way for the rock and roll voice. Over the course of his 70 years, Armstrong released 32 solo albums (not sure I could count high enough for all the records he appeared on during his career), and toured the world again and again. Armstrong won a Grammy in 1964, and has been inducted into the Jazz Hall of Fame, the Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (as an influence), and both the Louisiana Hall of Fame and the Long Island Hall of Fame. He also appeared in numerous movies and TV shows. Armstrong passed away in 1971 from a heart attack, leaving behind a legacy that few Americans will ever match.
Fun Fact: While doing my half-assed research for this week's post, I read that Armstrong grew up listening to spasm bands...which I had never heard of and are bands around New Orleans that play Dixieland, jug music, and skiffle (among others) and are composed of artists who use instruments made out of household items. Oh, the things you learn here on Friday Night Jukebox....
"What a Wonderful World" was originally released in 1967 and was later put on an album with the oh, so surprising title of What a Wonderful World. The single had no success in the U.S. as the head of Armstrong's label did not like the song and refused to publicize it. It was a huge hit in the U.K., however, hitting #1 and staying there for four weeks (so many cool kids in the U.K.!). It was released again in the U.S. on the heels of the success of Good Morning, Vietnam in 1988. and reached #32 (with a bullet!) on the Billboard Hot 100.
It's easy to forget in such ugly times with Donald Trump and his hateful minions that our world is full of much beauty and love, and "What a Wonderful World," while not specifically a slap in the face to Trumpism, is a reminder of...well, what a wonderful world we do live in. The song is driven by lush strings, and the lyrics feature images that call to mind our better angels. And the driving force of all of it is Armstrong's performance, in which every syllable he sings exudes the joy and radiance that is all around us--made all the more poignant by the fact that it's sung by a black man living in a nation that hasn't always had his or his people's best interests at heart. It's a lovely tune sung by a lovely man about our lovely world, and a gentle nudge to take a few seconds to enjoy that loveliness.
Lyric Sheet: "I hear babies cry/I watch them grow/They'll learn much more/Than I'll ever know/And I think to myself/What a wonderful world..."
Enjoy:
Fuck Donald Trump,
emaycee
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