Category Archives: Uncategorized

In our previous post, Louis Armstrong found out he had a number one hit in England with “What a Wonderful World,” printed up a new diet chart, and prepared for his first New York City nightclub engagement in seven years, opening at the Latin Quarter on April 17. We shared a number of wonderful JackContinue reading ““The Greatest Photo Taker”: Remembering Jack Bradley Part 44–Backstage at the Latin Quarter April 1968″

Our previous post ended with audio of Louis Armstrong’s appearance on The Tonight Show on March 26, 1968, a normal night in the life of Louis, who had spent much of the first three months of the year on the road and in the recording studio. Just days later, some surprising news was reported inContinue reading ““The Greatest Photo Taker”: Remembering Jack Bradley Part 43–Latin Quarter Rehearsal and Tonight Show Appearance April 1968″

Today’s post in our ongoing Jack Bradley series is a bit different as we’re going slightly backwards before moving forward. After 41 parts, I have used every detective tool in my arsenal to keep this series flowing in strict chronological order but I recently made a mistake and have to own up to it (offeringContinue reading ““The Greatest Photo Taker”: Remembering Jack Bradley Part 42–Ford Commercial and Tonight Show Appearances”

A month has passed since the events chronicled in our last post, a Disney recordings session of February 27, 1968, and something has changed: Louis Armstrong has now lost a lot of weight. He had been slowly but steadily shedding pounds after suffering from pneumonia in May 1967, but still looked to be a healthyContinue reading ““The Greatest Photo Taker”: Remembering Jack Bradley Part 41–Brunswick Rehearsal and Session March 1968″

Lucille Wilson Armstrong was born on January 13, 1914, 110 years ago today! Previously, we did a deep dive on Lucille’s full life in this post from 2020, but for today’s celebration, we will stick to Lucille’s widowhood and share some rare audio and video of Lucille in conversation that we recently digitized for theContinue reading ““Louis’s Lady Lucille”: Lucille Armstrong 110th Birthday Celebration!”

Welcome to part 40 in our ongoing series chronicling the friendship between Louis Armstrong and Jack Bradley. Our last post was spent at Nola Rehearsal Studios in Manhattan in mid-February 1968 as Louis and the All Stars prepared to record what turned out to a pretty forgettable pair of songs for Kapp Records. Today’s postContinue reading ““The Greatest Photo Taker”: Remembering Jack Bradley Part 40–Disney Songs Rehearsal and Session February 1968″

Happy New Year, everyone. We’re starting 2024 just as we closed 2023, with part 39 of our ongoing series paying tribute to the friendship between Louis Armstrong and Jack Bradley. Today is a special day to publish a new entry as Jack Bradley himself was born on this date 90 years ago! We miss JackContinue reading ““The Greatest Photo Taker”: Remembering Jack Bradley Part 39–Rehearsal for Kapp Session February 1968″

In our previous post, Louis Armstrong found himself in the recording studio, struggling mightily–and eventually succeeding–to sing four songs in Italian on December 11 and 12, 1967. He’d be back in the studio on December 18 for what turned out to be a much more relaxing experience, though the results were arguably heard by lessContinue reading ““The Greatest Photo Taker”: Remembering Jack Bradley Part 38–Mitch Miller Session and Waldorf Christmas Benefit”

And now for something completely different! Has anyone out there heard Louis Armstrong sing in Italian? If you have, consider yourself a die-hard Pops fan, but if you haven’t, you’ve come to the right place as this post will contain the music, photos, and stories behind one of the most unique Armstrong recording projects inContinue reading ““The Greatest Photo Taker”: Remembering Jack Bradley Part 37–Italian Sessions December 1967″

Our previous post dealt with a memorable few days Louis Armstrong spent making the rounds with Jack Bradley in Chicago in late October 1967. In it, we discussed a mysterious All Stars rehearsal that appeared to be for an upcoming Brunswick recording date. That turned out to be the case but it wasn’t until researchingContinue reading ““The Greatest Photo Taker”: Remembering Jack Bradley Part 36–Roseland Benefit and Brunswick Session”