Happy Birthday Louis Armstrong

While it has been determined that Louis Armstrong's actual Birthday is August 4, like wkcr.org who is broadcasting 24 hours of Satchmo on July and August 4, let us celebrate his Birthdate with several choice recordings by him.

With his Hot Five, "Cornet Hot Suey" is one of his classics.

Not as well known as "West End Blues", his duet with Earl Hines, "Weatherbird" provided Gary Giddens the name for his Village voice jazz column.

Louis Armstrong's short time with the Fletcher Henderson Orchestra helped revolutionize jazz. "Sugar Foot Stomp" was an updating of "Dippermouth Blues" he recorded with King Oliver.

It is amazing what he does with Carmen Lombardo's "Sweethearts on Parade."

Louis was in demand for recording sessions behind a variety of blues singers including Bessie Smith, Ma Rainey, Sippie Wallace, and Bertha "Chippie' Hill, heard on the original "Trouble in Mind."

Amazing that we have a video of him in Sweden playing "Tiger Rag" in the 1930s.

To close this brief selection of tunes here is "Public Melody Number One" a tune that Catherine Russell, daughter of Luis Russell who led Armstrong's big band on this, has recorded. See you on August 4.