The Ed Sullivan Show archives have shared previously unreleased Louis Armstrong performances, with the first premiering tonight, January 22.
It is believed that Ed Sullivan himself lent these clips to Louis Armstrong and Universal Music Enterprises, because the two were friends, having been born in the same year in 1901. These new clips of Armstrong are able to be brought up now after decades of being lost. The first clip, premiering Jan. 22, shows Armstrong at his best, with him and opera star Robert Merrill performing a Medley (“Vesti la giubba” and “Honeysuckle Rose”) on the episode that aired on April 17, 1955.
Armstrong spent a lot of his life living in Queens, permanently settling there in 1943, despite being from New Orleans. By the 1950s, Armstrong, commonly known as “Satchmo” was widely known, and was entered into the Down Beat Jazz Hall of Fame in 1952. He starred as himself in the 1954 Biopic The Glenn Miller Story and that same year also released his second autobiography, Satchmo: My Life in New Orleans. 1964 proved to be an important year for Armstrong as his record Hello, Dolly! remained on the Hot 100 for 22 weeks, dislodging a few Beatles songs. He died in 1971 of a heart attack.
Armstrong went on the Ed Sullivan Show a few times in his life, and some new clips are being released now that have never been seen before. The Ed Sullivan show is the most popular primetime variety show in American history, hosting a number of talent including The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Elvis Presley and Motown artists. The first clip being released shows Armstrong and opera star Robert Merrill perfmroign “Vesti la giubba” and “Honeysuckle Rose” on the episode that aired on April 17, 1955.
Another new clip that was originally broadcast on CBS Network on May 15, 1955, features Armstrong alongside Gary Crosby delivering a performance of “Struttin With Some Barbecue,” will be released soon. The rare clip is available now to watch on YouTube.
Comments are closed.