Louis Armstrong’s iconic ballad, What A Wonderful World, has been described as one of the most beautiful songs ever written. It became the New Orleans jazz legend’s top-selling song of his long and illustrious career.

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The trumpet-player and vocalist recorded and released the gentle ballad in the United States in 1967. Released on the HMV label in Britain, it was the biggest-selling single of 1968. It rocketed to number one in the singles charts in the UK and Austria and made the top ten across Europe.

With lyrics promoting positive thinking, the single achieved sales of more than 1.2 million and was certified platinum. It soon surpassed Armstrong’s previous biggest hit, the Grammy Award-winning Hello Dolly, from the 1964 musical.

What a Wonderful World was re-released as a single in 1988, after appearing on the soundtrack of the war drama, Good Morning Vietnam, starring Robin Williams. This led to a new generation of interest, and it charted again worldwide.

In 1999, it was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Since being released digitally in 2004, the 1967 recording has sold more than 2.1 million downloads, proving the 56-year-old lyrics are still relevant in the 21st century.

Modern-day music critics believe its universal appeal is due to its “feel good factor” and inspirational lyrics. It promotes a timeless message of peace, love and harmony.

Armstrong himself believed it told a “story of possibilities”. In 1970, he recorded a spoken intro for the song, urging people to recognise what a wonderful place the world is and how we should treat our planet well.

In the added lyrics, he said, “It ain’t the world that’s so bad, but what we’re doing to it. All I’m saying is, see what a wonderful world it would be, if only we’d give it a chance.”

Who was Louis Armstrong?

Born in 1901, initially Armstrong was raised by his grandmother in New Orleans, Louisiana. His mother, Mary, had given birth when she was 16 and his father, William, soon deserted the family.

The youngster returned to his mother’s care at the age of five and grew up in a rough and impoverished neighbourhood of the racially segregated city. Aged six, while still at school, he had to collect “rags and bones” and deliver coal to make money, working for the Karnofsky family.

He credited them with teaching him to sing “from the heart”, as he learned by singing a lullaby to their baby son, David, at bedtime. He started singing and playing a tin horn in the street to attract customers to Karnofskys’ junk wagon.

Armstrong left school at eleven and joined a boys’ quartet, busking in the streets for money. His early musical talents led to his long and distinguished career as a trumpet-player and vocalist.

From 1918, he played in brass bands and on riverboats on the Mississippi. At 20, he learned to read music and became second cornet player in Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band in Chicago. He earned enough money to rent his own apartment as his reputation grew.

He made his first studio recordings for Gennett Records on April 5th, 1923, signalling the start of his career as one of the world’s most iconic singers, musicians and movie stars.

What a Wonderful World

By the 1960s, Armstrong had played live all over the world and had starred in Hollywood musicals such as New Orleans, opposite Billie Holiday, in 1947 and High Society with Bing Crosby in 1956.

At the age of 66, he was given the ballad, What a Wonderful World, by songwriters Bob Thiele – under the pen name George Douglas – and George David Weiss. Thiele later said the song was penned as a “reassuring antidote” to mounting problems facing the US in the 1960s.

The song conveyed a beautiful and calming message of the wonders of the natural world. Its most famous lyrics provide a vivid description of spring and the beautiful greenery blooming all over the planet:

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.

Ironically, Armstrong’s record label, ABC, almost didn’t release the legendary song. The president of the label, Larry Newton, reportedly “hated” it and blocked the idea!

When Armstrong released the single himself anyway, Newton refused to promote it. Despite the bumpy start, it was a huge hit and had a 29-week chart run in the UK.

Armstrong re-recorded the song with the new spoken intro in 1970, just a year before his untimely death on 6th July 1971, after suffering a heart attack. His final performances were at the Waldorf-Astoria’s Empire Room in March 1971, after which he fell ill.

He has left a timeless legacy of his beautiful music – and in particular one song that inspires everyone and promotes the wonders of nature.

How can we make the most of our wonderful world?

You can embark on plenty of outdoor adventures to make the most of nature – especially now summer is on the way.

For many of us, now is the time to prepare for tent camping – so we can get back to nature and enjoy some relaxing and energising outdoor experiences amid jaw dropping scenery. There’s nothing more pleasant than dining al fresco on a warm, sunny day, relaxing on your camping chairs and listening to birdsong, while taking in the fresh air.

An estimated 1.2 million Brits go camping on a regular basis – a sizeable proportion of the population. When times are tight and the economic crisis is ongoing, camping is a cost-effective and fun way to take a break, even if you’re on a tight budget.

In the words of the song, “It’s a wonderful world,” so get out there and enjoy as many outdoor experiences as you can!

There’s nothing quite like Mother Nature.