"What a Wonderful World" (1967) - Bob Thiele ["George Douglas"] and George David Weiss (76-81)

How old was Louis Armstrong when he was arrested for the first time?

9

How old was Louis Armstrong when he was arrested for the second time?

12

When Louis Armstrong was arrested at 9 years of age, where was he sent?

Colored Waifs Home in New Orleans

Which relative was Louis Armstrong released to after the Colored Waifs Home?

Aunt

What year did Louis Armstrong did arrested for shooting a gun into the air on New Year’s Eve?

1912

Who were the proprietors of the Colored Waifs home that hired Peter Davis to be a band director?

Joseph and Manuela Jones

Which instrument did Armstrong first begin studying with Peter Davis?

Cornet

How long did it take Armstrong to master the cornet?

18 months

Which cornetist and band leader took a paternal interest in Armstrong, giving Armstrong a cornet?

Joe “King” Oliver

Where was Armstrong’s playing preserved for the first time?

Chicago

When did Armstrong marry pianist Lillian Hardin?

1924

Lillian Hardin was pianist for ________

Joe “King” Oliver

What was Lillian Hardin’s nickname?

Lil

Who improved Armstrong’s music theory and notation?

Lillian Hardin

Who pushed Armstrong to start a solo career?

Lillian Hardin

What was Armstrong’s nickname for his mouth being as big as a satchel?

Satchmo

When did “Hello, Dolly!” reach #1 on Billboard?

1964

Which of Armstrong’s singles reached #1 on Billboard in 1964, beating the Beatles and the Rolling Stones?

Hello, Dolly!

How old was Louis Armstrong when “Hello, Dolly!” reached #1 on Billboard?

63

Louis Armstrong was the oldest person to reach #1 on Billboard until ____, when the record was broken by someone else.

2023

During what war were Armstrong recordings banned

World War II

When did Louis Armstrong take his post-war tour?

1955

When did the US State Department sanction Armstrong’s tour to South America

1957

Where did Armstrong tour in 1957?

South America

Where did Armstrong travel in 1960 as an official state ambassador?

Africa

When did Armstrong travel to Africa as an official state ambassador?

1960

Which two individuals came up with the idea to write “What a Wonderful World” for Louis Armstrong?

Bob Thiele and George David Weiss

Why did Bob Thiele use an alias to publish “What a Wonderful World”

Industry bias against record producers producing their own compositions

The name “George Douglas” comes from the first names of Bob Thiele’s two _______.

Cousins

Why did Armstrong agree to perform “What a Wonderful World”

The lyrics resonated with him.

What was the name of Armstrong’s fourth wife?

Lucille

Where did Armstrong move after marrying his fourth wife, Lucille?

Corona, NY

What time was Armstrong’s performance at the Tropicana Hotel in Las Vegas?

Midnight

Where was Armstrong’s midnight performance on August 16th, 1967?

Tropicana Hotel, Las Vegas

Around what time did Armstrong, producers, and an ensemble of orchestra and choir come to United Studios to record “What a Wonderful World”

2 AM

How much was Armstrong paid for the recording session of “What a Wonderful World”

$250

Who was president of ABC-Paramount Records at the time of the recording of “What a Wonderful World”

Larry Newton

Larry Newton was president of what company?

ABC-Paramount Records

While “Hello, Dolly!” is an up tempo number, “What a Wonderful World” is a _______.

Ballad

Who was the publisher of “What a Wonderful World”

Frank Military

Which two individuals blocked Larry Newton from entering the recording studio?

Bob Thiele and Frank Military

Who was the arranger of “What a Wonderful World”

Artie Butler

Around what time was the recording session for “What a Wonderful World” complete?

6 AM

How long did the recording session for “What a Wonderful World” take?

About 4 hours

How many train whistles blew during the recording session for “What a Wonderful World”

2

Over the next year (1968), less than ______ copies of “What a Wonderful World” were sold in the US due to no promotion of the song from Larry Newton.

1000

In which country did “What a Wonderful World” shoot to #1, staying on top for 4 weeks and selling over 600,000 copies?

England

How long did “What a Wonderful World” stay #1 in England?

4 weeks

Over _________ copies of “What a Wonderful World” were sold in England.

600,000

When did a British executive fly to the US to deliver Armstrong’s silver award plaque?

September 1968

A silver award plaque in music is given to an artist who has sold ______ copies.

500,000

Who accepted Armstrong’s silver award plaque since he was hospitalized?

Larry Newton

Which movie featured “What a Wonderful World” in 1988?

Good Morning Vietnam

Who was director of “Good Morning Vietnam”

Barry Levinson

How high did “What a Wonderful World” reach on US Billboard Charts?

32

When did Louis Armstrong die?

1971

When was “What a Wonderful World” added to the Grammy Hall of Fame?

1999

What structural form was “What a Wonderful World” use?

32 Bar Song Form

What key is “What a Wonderful World” in?

F-Major

The first phrase of “What a Wonderful World” cadences on which note, the mediant of F-major?

A

The mediant is what note on a scale?

Third

The tonic is what note on a scale?

First

Which phrase of “What a Wonderful World” cadences on A?

First

The second phrase of “What a Wonderful World” cadences on which note, the tonic of F-major?

F

Both the first and second phrase leap to which two notes, the dominant and submediant of F-major?

C and D

The dominant is what note of a scale?

Fifth

The submediant is what note of a scale?

Sixth

What is the supertonic of F-major?

G

Which line in “What a Wonderful World” does Armstrong improvise?

“Oh, yeah”

The A phrase of “What a Wonderful World” bears a similarity to the first phrase of which lullaby?

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

What musical form does Twinkle Twinkle Little Star use?

Ternary ABA

What descent does Twinkle use in the B section of its ternary form?

5-4-3-2

The flowing accompaniment that opens “What a Wonderful World” is in what time signature?

12/8

The mediant A builds _________, while the tonic C gives a __________.

Anticipation; resolution.

What is a cadence?

A resting point

In the coda of “What a Wonderful World,” which instrument arpeggios against sustained strings?

Glockenspiel