The Seven-year Challenge to Complete the Louis Armstrong Statue
Floyd Levin · 2000
This chapter presents an account of the seven-year challenge to complete a statue honoring Louis Armstrong, who is considered as the first and greatest celebrity of jazz. It discusses the fund that was established in New Orleans, and examines Ned Brundage's article where he expressed the joys and anguish connected with the concert production of “Hello Louis!”, as well as the efforts to complete the Statue Fund. The chapter also discusses Bing Crosby's contribution to the fund, and the unveiling of the Louis Armstrong statue on July 4, 1976.