What a Wonderful World

Louis Armstrong
 Louis Armstrong
• He was an American trumpeter, composer, vocalist and
occasional actor who was one of the most influential figures in
jazz.
• He’s also known as Satchmo (Such mouth)
• Louis Daniel Armstrong was born on August 4, 1901 in New
Orleans, Louisiana
• “Battlefield”
 Louis Armstrong
• Mary Albert and William Armstrong
• The Karnoffskys, a local Jewish family
• He was arrested on December 31, 1912
• Colored Waif's Home for Boys
• King Oliver, one of the greatest cornet player in town
• Big Band Jazz (1922)
 Louis Armstrong
• Lillian Hardin (1924)
• Fletcher Henderson's Orchestra, the top African-American dance
band in New York City at the time.
• However, Armstrong's southern background didn't mesh well with
the more urban, Northern mentality of Henderson's other
musicians.
• Unhappy, Armstrong left Henderson in 1925 to return to Chicago,
where he began playing with his wife Lil's band at the Dreamland
Café.
• Louis Armstrong and his Hot Five.
 Louis Armstrong
• 1933 during a tour in Europe, Armstrong's career fell apart
• 1934 he returned to Chicago and within a few months, Armstrong
had a new big band and was recording for Decca Records.
• By the mid-'40s, the Swing Era was winding down and the era of
big bands was almost over.
• Armstrong continued a grueling touring schedule into the late
'50s, and it caught up with him in 1959, when he had a heart
attack while traveling in Spoleto, Italy
 Louis Armstrong
• In 1967, Armstrong recorded a new ballad, "What a Wonderful World”
• Heart and kidney problems forced him to stop performing in 1969.
• By the summer of 1970, Armstrong was allowed to perform publicly again
and play the trumpet.
• By the summer of 1970, Armstrong was allowed to perform publicly again
and play the trumpet.
• He performed for two weeks at New York's Waldorf-Astoria. However, a heart
attack two days after the Waldorf gig sidelined him for two months.
• Armstrong returned home in May 1971, and though he soon resumed playing
again and promised to perform in public once more, he died in his sleep on
July 6, 1971, at his home in Queens, New York.
 What a Wonderful World

I see trees of green, red roses too

I see them bloom for me and you
And I think to myself what a wonderful world
 I see skies of blue and clouds of white
The bright blessed day, the dark sacred night
And I think to myself what a wonderful world
 The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces of people going by
I see friends shaking hands saying how do you do
They're really saying I love you
 I hear babies crying, I watch them grow
They'll learn much more than I'll never know
And I think to myself what a wonderful world
Yes I think to myself what a wonderful world
• RHYME SCHEME – The last words in the first two lines of each verse rhyme: it is a simple
rhyming pattern that adds a cheerful tone to the song and makes it easier to remember

• REPETITION – The phrase “And I think to myself what a wonderful world.” is repeated at the
end of every verse (except one) to keep the song lighthearted and emphasize its message:
the fact that even though there is much hatred and violence within the world, it is still
beautiful.

• IMAGERY – The imagery used to describe nature and friends. creates a vivid image of
happiness and joy.

• MESSAGE – The timeless message states that the wonders of nature and friendship are
important. Even when everything seems lost and despairing, there is always hope for the
future. The song was written during a time of terrible turmoil, and the singer himself, being a
black American, had faced prejudice and bitterness.