Louis Armstrong (1901-1971) was an American Jazz trumpeter and singer, from New Orleans, Louisiana. With his strong stage presence and recognizable voice, Armstrong crossed over from a singer/songwriter to a celebrity personality, influencing popular music as well the jazz community.

The Muppets have covered not only songs written by Armstrong, including "Cheese Cake", but also songs that were hits for him, including "Hello, Dolly!", "When You're Smiling" and "Mack the Knife".

References

• Kevin Clash based Hoots' voice on Louis Armstrong's voice ^[1], and Steve Whitmire wanted to base Lips on him as well. ^[2] Clash uses a similar voice for a trumpet-playing jar in the Sesame Street song, "Recycling Blues."

• In the coloring book Great Muppets in American History, Gonzo appears as "Gonzo Armstrong".

• "Floyd's Record Rap" in the Summer 1987 issue of Muppet Magazine reviews a Louis Armstrong record.

• On episode 3448 of Sesame Street, the Worm World Music Festival features Gooey Armstrong from New Orleans.

Connections

• Northern Calloway played Louis Armstrong in the New Federal Theater's production of Louis in 1981.

External links

• IMDb
• Internet Broadway Database

References

1. ↑ Clash, Kevin, My Life as a Furry Red Monster
2. ↑ Plume, Kenneth Muppet Central interview with Steve Whitmire