What a Wonderful World: The Magic of Louis Armstrong's Later Years

by Ricky Riccardi

Prodigiously researched and richly detailed, this is a comprehensive account of the remarkable final twenty-five years of the life and art of one of America’s greatest and most beloved musical icons.
 
Much has been written about Louis Armstrong, but the majority of it focuses on the early and middle stages of his long career. Now, Ricky Riccardi—jazz scholar and musician—takes an in-depth look at the years in which Armstrong was often dismissed as a buffoonish, if popular, entertainer, and shows us instead the inventiveness and depth of expression that his music evinced during this time.
 
These are the years (from after World War II until his death in 1971) when Armstrong entertained crowds around the world and recorded his highest-charting hits, including “Mack the Knife” and “Hello, Dolly!”; years when he collaborated with, among others, Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, and Dave Brubeck; when he recorded with strings and big bands, and, of course, with the All Stars, his primary recording ensemble for more than two decades. Riccardi makes clear that these were years in which Armstrong both burnished and enhanced his legacy as one of jazz’s most influential figures.
 
Eminently readable, informative, and insightful, here, finally, is a book that enlarges and completes our understanding of a peerless musical genius of commanding influence as both an instrumentalist and a vocalist.

From the Hardcover edition.

Genres: Music, Biography, Jazz, Nonfiction, History

369 pages, Hardcover

First published June 21, 2011

Reviews

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a lovely book about a jazz superstar covering the last 25 years of his life. As stated in the book, Mr. Armstrong was a force of nature from the time he started playing his horn when he was a teenager right up until he died in 1971.

Deeply researched, it’s almost an overload of information. Quite interesting overall and well written. Lots of good photos of Louis and others in his life. If you are a fan of Jazz and Louis, you will enjoy this book.

[Mikey B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The basic premise of this book is that the post-world War II Armstrong was just as innovative and as powerful a musical personality as he was with his Hot-5 and Hot-7 groups in the 1920’s and 1930’s when jazz was introduced to the U.S., and then the entire world. There are some jazz enthusiasts who dismiss the post 1945 Louis Armstrong; Ricky Riccardi has the contrary viewpoint.

Like the author I believe that this era, with Louis Armstrong’s powerful vocalizations, vaulted him to an untouchable musical echelon. This book explores this period of Louis’s career and what a time it was! Unlike other jazz books that merely run-off performances and recording dates we get a true feel of Louis’s personality. There are many direct quotations; some profane and politically incorrect as the author warns us! Louis recorded many of his thoughts and house-reunions on reel-to-reel tapes. The relationship between Louis and his business manager Joe Glaser is dealt with in detail – perhaps there could have been more on his relationship with his wife Lucille who took great pride in their home in Queens, New York. The author also obtains candid remarks of those who performed with Louis. We also get the other side of the coin - from those who felt Louis was an “Uncle Tom” giving a negative caricature to African Americans.

When all is said and done it must be acknowledged that Louis dominated the musical landscape with his trumpet, his most soulful vocalizations and his vibrant performances. And this reign lasted from the late 1920’s to his death in 1971! It is hard to think of other musicians who toured the world stage for so long and with so much success (maybe Paul McCartney).

I am glad the author points out some fine performances. “Zat You, Santa Claus” should be played more during the holiday season, the Disney recordings are also surprisingly poignant. One of my top favourites is “Louis and the Good Book”. As the author points out time and again, Louis could take any song and turn it into magnificence – imprinting his personality onto it.

This is a great book about a musical legend rising up from nowhere – he had everything against him – his skin colour and his poverty. At the end we have a portrait of a man who lived for his music and his performances. Rick Riccardi takes us on a fine journey of this remarkable man’s life.

[Harold · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nicely detailed read of a period of Armstrong's life that is glossed over by most of his biographers.
In 1947 Louis Armstrong disbanded his big band and formed "The All Stars", a six piece unit he would work with until his death in 1972. When first formed the group truly was an all star aggregation. All the members were jazz luminaries. Over the years, as the personel changed, the stars were replaced by musicians known within the music world but not known to the general public as well as those of the original edition. Critical acclaim gave way to often scathing criticism concerning a static repetoire and Armstrong's stage persona. Riccardi refutes this and I agree (and have had that opinion for years). I've seen the All Stars live and I've heard many recordings by them. To put it simply Armstrong was the greatest musician and personality jazz has produced. One has to delve past the top 40 hit records of the 60s to dig this, but you don't really have to dig far. For starters "Louis Armstrong plays W.C. Handy" or "Satch plays Fats" both readily available 60 years after they were recorded and both in great audio. IOW you don't have to delve into his seminal 1920s recordings to understand his greatness, and while any musician should, it is hard for modern ears to deal with 1920s recording technology...but worth the effort if you are so inclined.

[Sam Irwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Real Louis

I suppose it's easy to write about a subject you love. If that's the Ricky Ricardo must have composed this book in his sleep. I love how he's so enthusiastic about Louis. For someone who only knows the Good Morning, Vietnam Louis Armstrong, this book is the antidote. Read it. It will make you feel good.

[Jake Cole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Riccardi's book frequently dips into hagiography, but he captures the passion and artistry of Satchmo's late-period music in minute detail. You can hear the pain in Armstrong's reading of his protest anthem "Black and Blue" in a concert in East Berlin, the roars of laughter that greeted Armstrong's sly jokes as critics pooh-poohed his clownish antics, even the ferocity of Trummy Young's bawdy trombone on Armstrong's finest LP, Louis Armstrong Plays W.C. Handy. Riccardi's fantastic research pays off in a seemingly limitless series of choice anecdotes (Armstrong's enthusiasm for laxatives led him to pitch members of British nobility, and his on-stage war with Benny Goodman is a riot), keen insights and much-needed context for Armstrong's ostensible break from jazz for pop. What a Wonderful World makes a good pairing with Paul Tingen's book on Miles Davis' late career, Miles Beyond. Though the two titans had wildly diverging approaches to their twilights — Armstrong constantly playing the hits, Davis striving for new sounds — both shared a longing to win back black audiences, a disdain for easy categorization, and a restless energy that propelled them even when illness put the writing on the wall. I was already an Armstrong fan, but this book sent me scurrying for at least a dozen more records than I already had. Highly recommended.

[Byron Stripling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished reading this incredible book. It was like reading a song! Ricky Riccardi has created a fantastic, heartfelt, gloriously beautiful biography of Louis Armstrong. He is one of the first serious authors with the courage to confront the legitimacy of Armstrong's later days and he does it with an honest, deep seated love for the man and his music. I was moved throughout the book and even found myself fighting back tears as he soulfully painted the the ups and downs of Louis' final years. This is an eloquent love letter to a man I never met or heard in person - but because of the author I feel a bit closer to him. Bravo! I look forward to more from Ricky Riccardi.

[Yasmin · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing book about an amazing man, an absolute read for anyone who loves Louis Armstrong and Jazz! Here we see Mr. Armstrong in the later years of his life and he was ever the humble unique individual he had been since birth. It touches on everything, from his fame, his illnesses, the critics and the admireres that followed him in his life and afterwards. A very well written book for a genius like Louis Armstrong who was in his own words a pioneer and there won't be another one like him and yet he lives on through his music.

[Gloria James · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't understand the reader who said the writing here is "dense." I found this book easy and fascinating to read. Riccardi writes with love and passion. For years I've tried to tell people that Louis' last 20 years were filled with musical wisdom, energy, and beauty. Finally, my opinion has been justified. I highly recommend this fine book.

[chaz2b]

= 062511 Jazz Historian’s 15-Year Dream: Book on Louis Armstrong http://j.mp/jvGGJy
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[Terry Dullum · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good stuff. The story of the last twenty years of Armstrong's life.

[Aimee · Rating 2 out of 5]

So incredibly dense. It took me 3 minutes to read a page!

[Randy Pleune · Rating 5 out of 5]

By far the best book I've read! What he has gone through is incredible! He is such a genuinely caring guy! Definitely the first book that's made my eyes moist.