Friday, August 04, 2006




Two great events happened on this date. The first is the birthday of the one and only --the legendary .... Louis Armstrong. Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong" was in one word: incredible. He could create the most amazing trumpet sounds and he could sing in that raspy gravely voice of his so uniquely. I remember so well seing him perform at Disneyland in the 1960's during the "Dixieland at Disneyland" private parties that the Disney folks used to hold there before Walt's passing! His first important song that he introduced was "Chinatown My Chinatown!" back in 1929. Today would have been 106 years old. One myth that has been dispelled: the great Satchmo was for years thought to have been born on the Fourth of July, He was not! He was born August 4th, 1900. At the time of his death which occurred three days after his 71st birthday tributes had arrived from some legends as Duke Ellington, Gene Krupa, Benny Goodman, Al Hirt, Earl Hines, Tyree Glen and Eddie Condon. Mr. Ellington had said "If anybody was Mr. Jazz, it was Louis Armstrong!" President Richard Nixon sent the following telegram: Mrs. Nixon and I share the sorrow of millions of Americans at the death of Louis Armstrong. He was one of the architects of an American art form, and he was both a free and individual spirit and an artist of worldwide fame . His great talents and magnificent spirit added richness and pleasure to our lives!" In his own words about himself in 1969, Louis Armstrong said "I never tried to prove noithing, just always to give a good show. My life has been my music; it always come first! The music ain't worth nothing though if you can't lay it on the people. The main thing is to live for that audience"-- cause what you're there for is to please the people". One of his finest hits was the title tune from "Hello Dolly" that he actually got to sing in the movie with Barbara Streisand. What almost became his theme song in his later life "What a Wonderful World" didn't become truly popular until it was part of the soundtrack for "Sleepless in Seattle" Today also is the birthday of Anne Frank. On this day in 1942, fourteen year old Anne received that world famous diary, we have all read. There is a magnificent Anne Frank website that really reviews the entire contents of that diary and gives a brand new appreciation for this brave little girl who really was an incredible little writer I strongly suggest that everybody looks at this site as soon as possible! Another cool day today, hurray! Recieved a nice thank you card on behalf of my new little great niece, Christina Grace Dillon-- what a darling!

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