Born and raised in New Orleans, trumpeter Louis Armstrong - also known as "Satchmo", "Satch" and "Pops" - was one of the most influential figures in jazz, with a career spanning five decades. With his instantly recognizable rich, gravelly voice, Armstrong was also an influential singer, demonstrating great dexterity as an improviser, bending the lyrics and melody of a song for expressive purposes. Armstrong is renowned for his charismatic stage presence and voice almost as much as for his trumpet playing. Armstrong's influence extends well beyond jazz, and by the end of his career in the 1960s, he was widely regarded as a profound influence on popular music in general.

The song "What A Wonderful World" was first recorded by Louis Armstrong and released in 1967 as a single, which topped the pop charts in the United Kingdom. His recording was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999. ABC Records issued the album What A Wonderful World in 1968. It was issued by Stateside Records in the UK where it charted at No. 37.

Helmed by legendary producer Bob Thiele, this 1968 recording ushered Louis Armstrong into his later days as a pop vocalist. Here, the trumpet that drove Armstrong's early Hot Fives and Sevens is more subdued as his familiar gravelly voice takes center stage. Showcasing the powerful title track as well as several cheery pop favorites, Armstrong's prowess as an interpreter of song is unmistakable during these recordings, despite his rapidly failing health. Satchmo's amiable presence carries this recording through a few slow moments and has endeared the album as a pop vocal classic.

-AllMusic

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