Louis Armstrong’s 'What A Wonderful World' released as song receives historic 5x platinum certification

Ahead of the release of the forthcoming live album LOUIS IN LONDON, Louis Armstrong’s legendary track “What a Wonderful World” has been certified 5x Platinum by the RIAA, marking the original recording’s cumulative US sales of more than 5 million since its first release in 1967. To coincide with this milestone moment, Verve Records is releasing the official performance video of the track.



Inducted to the GRAMMY® Hall of Fame in 1999, “What A Wonderful World” is among the world’s most beloved – and best-selling – standards of all time, with international certifications also including 5x Platinum in Canada; 1.5 Platinum in Germany; and Platinum in the UK, Denmark, Italy, France, and Spain. The new RIAA certification was accepted by fellow trumpeter and President of the Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation, Wynton Marsalis, on behalf of Louis Armstrong/the Louis Armstrong Estate.

Recorded live at the BBC on July 2, 1968 – just weeks after “What A Wonderful World” hit the #1 spot on the UK charts, later proving the UK’s biggest-selling single that year – LOUIS IN LONDON captures Louis Armstrong on sparkling form in his last great performance. The 13-song collection features six previously unreleased tracks: “What A Wonderful World”, "(Back Home Again) In Indiana", "You’ll Never Walk Alone", "Ole Miss", "Blueberry Hill", and “Hello, Dolly!”. The album will be released digitally, on CD, and on standard black and exclusive blue vinyl, accompanied by exclusive liner notes by Armstrong’s biographer and Director of Research Collections for the Louis Armstrong House Museum, Ricky Riccardi, on Friday, July 12.

LOUIS ARMSTRONG
LOUIS IN LONDON
(Verve Records)
Release Date: Friday, July 12
Tracklist:
When It’s Sleepy Time Down South
(Back Home Again) In Indiana
A Kiss To Build a Dream On
Hello, Dolly!
Mame
You’ll Never Walk Alone
Ole Miss
Blueberry Hill
Mack The Knife
Rockin’ Chair
The Bare Necessities
What a Wonderful World
When The Saints Go Marching In
Louis Armstrong: trumpet, vocals

The All Stars:
Tyree Glenn: trombone
Joe Muranyi: clarinet
Marty Napoleon: piano
Buddy Catlett: bass
Danny Barcelona: drums