Blanche Dorothea Jones Calloway (February 9, 1902 – December 16, 1978) was an American jazz singer, composer, and bandleader. She was the older sister of Cab Calloway and was a successful singer before her brother. […]
Jazztodon artist of the week: Louis Armstrong! What would jazz sound like today, even if jazz existed at all, without Louis Armstrong? He invented (or was a strong early influence on) the jazz solo, swing, scat singing, and free personal expression in popular singing. What are some of your favorite Armstrong records or performances? (Thoughts on Wynton's new cover album of the Hot 5 and Hot 7 recordings?)
#GreatAlbums1950s - #LouisArmstrong – Plays W.C. Handy (1954). Armstrong sounds revivified and full of joy interpreting Handy’s seminal blues compositions – “St. Louis Blues,” “Memphis Blues,” “Yellow Dog Rag,” etc. Members of Pops’ small fifties combo – trombonist Trummy Young, clarinetist Barney Bigard, etc. – keep the soloing hot. Vocal trade-offs between Pops’ sandpaper voice and Velma Middleton’s smoother pipes enhance the jamboree feel of this classic set. #GreatJazzAlbums, #WCHandy, #Jazz
Returning from our history cruise on the Creole Queen Paddle-wheeler and readying to dock behind the Riverboat Louis Armstrong. This riverboat is more about being a venue for Concerts, Brunches, Seasonal Events, Meetings, and Weddings. Since it is a 'jazzy" boat, I jazzed up my image with multiple layers and filters in Topaz.
This song has been bringing tears to my eyes. It WAS a wonderful world -- but we f*cked it up!
"I see trees of green
Red roses too
I see them bloom
For me and you
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world
I see skies of blue
And clouds of white
The bright blessed days
The dark sacred nights
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world
The colors of the rainbow
So pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces
Of people going by
I see friends shaking hands
Saying, 'How do you do?'
They're really saying
I love you
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
Yes, I think to myself
What a wonderful world
Ooh, yes"
On this day 1n 1968 #LouisArmstrong hit #1 in the U.K. with 'What a Wonderful World'. At the time he was the oldest artist to achieve this honour.
"The colors of the rainbow
So pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces
Of people going by
I see friends shaking hands
Saying how do you do
They're really saying
I love you"