Other performers admired him, and many other coronet players tried to emulate him, but there was only one Louis Armstrong, one music master, one unique singer, and one ambassador of jazz. He was a legend, and many of his musical numbers live on today, including "Hello Dolly," and "What a Wonderful World," which staged a comeback after it was used in the soundtrack for the film "Good Morning Vietnam" (Giddins 5). This book reads more like an homage to Armstrong, rather than a simple telling of his musical life and that may be the book's biggest weakness. It is clear the author is a fan and admirer of Armstrong, his musical talent, and his many accomplishments, and so, it is difficult to find any real criticism of his work or his music here. The author does mention other criticism of Louis, but is skeptical of most of it, and so, the book reads more as a testimonial rather than an unbiased account of Armstrong's life and talent. However, the author does quote heavily from Armstrong himself, so his own persona...

Armstrong is a jazz legend in America, and he changed the way jazz was looked at and played. He encouraged great musicianship and improvisation in his work, and his influences were the blues and jazz of the 1920s that grew up in New Orleans, Chicago, and Nashville. He is still a legend to most musicians, and few can match his talent or his great love of music. In addition, the author paints him as a kind and gentle man, a bit overwhelmed by the attention his music received. It is nice to read about someone with so much talent who did not flaunt it, but rather shared it with people who truly appreciated it.