Thank you, Louis Armstrong….
by Elouise
Thank you, Mr. Armstrong, for recording this amazing song, first released as a single 60 years ago today. Your smooth and grainy, gravelly voice is an inspiration. The seniors among us remember what it was like in the USA in 1967.
- Viet Nam war drags on with no end in sight
- About 2500 mothers of drafted soldiers storm the Pentagon, demand a meeting with Defense Secretary Robert McNamara
- LBJ doubles down–determined not to ‘lose’ this war
- Edward W. Brooke, Attorney General of Massachusetts, seated in the US Senate as the first elected Negro Senator in 85 years
- Muhammed Ali refuses to be drafted into the Viet Nam war, is stripped of his world heavyweight boxing championship
- Anti-war protests break out across the United States
- Blood poured on draft records by a Roman Catholic priest and two companions
- California Governor Ronald Reagan suggests that LBJ ‘leak’ the possibility of nuclear weapons being used
- Stokely Carmichael calls for a black revolution in the US, using skills “they taught us” in Viet Nam
- Thurgood Marshall confirmed by Senate as first black on the Supreme Court, opposed by one Republican–Strom Thurmond of South Carolina
I know you didn’t write this song yourself. Yet you chose to record it during a difficult time in our history. Perhaps because of the chaos, you wanted to shine a light on the simple gifts and beauty of this world, and on everyday life with our neighbors. I need this as much today as I did back then.
With admiration and gratitude,
Elouise ♥
©Elouise Renich Fraser, 16 August 2017
BBC video found on YouTube; pop ballad written by Bob Thiele and George David Weiss
Response to WordPress Daily Prompt: Grainy
Perhaps this would be a good time, because of the chaos all around us today, for this song to be re-released. It’s what the world needs.
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I second the motion! Thanks Fandango. 🙏🏻
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Outstanding This song has come back to me several times this year It brings more meaning each time Blessings. Dave
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How wonderful that is! So glad it connected with you. Simple and profound. 🎶
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Always a favourite of mine, I have always been a great lover of Dixieland music and once had a mighty collection including many of Louis. One was made in 1916 when he was 16 years old playing second cornet to King Oliver. My mother smashed my collection.
I was fortunate to see him live on stage in Melbourne in the late 1950’s
A good man!
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What a privilege! And what a wonderful collection you must have had. 😟
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It was part of our wedding dance and by golly 67 was a fine year, after all, I came to be a breathing & loving baby that summer ❤
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Whoa! Jackpot! Happy birthday year and wedding dance to you, from Louis Armstrong. Who could ask for more? That’s just plain wonderful–like our wonderful world. 🙂
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Not me, life is good and memories are so precious, just like good music ❤
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Gotta love Sachmo!
I agree with that it was nice to hear such a pleasant song after so many depressing days.
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Oh yes. Wasn’t it, though….:)
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Reblogged this on Telling the Truth and commented:
Louis Armstrong’s birthday is today (born on 1 Aug 1901), so this is in celebration of his life. It’s also going out with hope that we’ll learn to look each other in the eye as neighbors. The kind whose “How do you do” is a way of saying “I love you.” Elouise
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