On and off since later 1950,Louis Armstronghad been documenting his aliveness throughtape recordings . He ’d record conversations , interviews , personal story , and other spoken sound . He ’d also often play a vinyl record — of his own music or someone else’s — and tape - record that , sometimes introducing each song as he went .
So in 1969 , when Armstrong was convalescing at home in Queens , New York , after a infirmary stay , he pay the downtime to his hobby . From then until his death on July 6 , 1971 , the reverence musician made some 200 tape recording recordings in his hideout . His wife , Lucille , even had the room refurbished and fit with new tape decks , grant to Ricky Riccardi , director of research collections at theLouis Armstrong House Museum .
It was during this period that Armstrong created his last commercial-grade criminal record : a spirited recital of “ A sojourn from St. Nicholas , ” an early 19th - 100 poem better love as “ ’ Twas the Night Before Christmas ” or just “ The Night Before Christmas ” ( which may or may not have been write by Clement Clarke Moore ) .
AsSmithsonianreports , Armstrong — who got hisfirst Christmas treeat old age 40 — narrated theChristmasclassic at dwelling house on February 26 , 1971 , on a reel - to - spool tape recorder . Lorillard Tobacco Company then farm 1 million vinyl copies of it — with an erstwhile transcription of Armstrong ’s “ When the Saints Go Marching In ” on the barn - side — and handed them out for free to coffin nail vendee during the holidays .
“ This great homo always burble with life and his version of ‘ The Night Before Christmas ’ obviously tickled him as deep as it should his listener , ” New YorkDaily Newscolumnist Robert Sylvester wrote in the album’sliner notes . “ His ad libs , his accenting and his pure pleasure with his ‘ performing ’ are contagious and bring to us a part of work which will make us prize his great talent yr after year as we listen to his Christmas protection . ”
you may listen for yourself below — nocigarettepurchase necessary .
[ h / tSmithsonian ]
