Coming to prominence in the 1920s as an "inventive" trumpet and cornet player, Armstrong was a foundational influence in jazz, shifting the focus of the music from collective improvisation to solo performance. With his instantly recognizable gravelly voice, Armstrong was also an influential singer, demonstrating great dexterity as an improviser, bending the lyrics and melody of a song for expressive purposes. He was also skilled at scat singing (vocalizing using sounds and syllables instead of actual lyrics).

Renowned for his charismatic stage presence and voice almost as much as for his trumpet-playing, Armstrong's influence extends well beyond jazz music, and by the end of his career in the 1960s, he was widely regarded as a profound influence on popular music in general. Armstrong was one of the first truly popular African-American entertainers to "cross over", whose skin color was secondary to his music in an America that was severely racially divided. He rarely publicly politicized his race, often to the dismay of fellow African-Americans, but took a well-publicized stand for desegregation during the Little Rock Crisis. His artistry and personality allowed him socially acceptable access to the upper echelons of American society that were highly restricted for a black man.

"Hey Pops, what you mean 'What a wonderful world'?

How about all them wars all over the place?

You call them wonderful?

And how about hunger and pollution?

That ain't so wonderful either."

Well how about listening to old Pops for a minute.

Seems to me, it aint the world that's so bad but what we're doin' to it.

And all I'm saying is see what a wonderful world

It would be if only we'd give it a chance.

Love baby, love. That's the secret, yeah.

If lots more of us loved each other

we'd solve lots more problems.

And then this world would be gasser.

That's wha' ol' Pops keeps saying."

I see trees of green, red roses too

I see them bloom, for me and you

And I think to myself

What a wonderful world

I see skies of blue, and clouds of white

The bright blessed day, dark sacred night

And I think to myself

What a wonderful world

The colors of the rainbow, so pretty in the sky

Are also on the faces, of people going by

I see friends shaking hands, sayin', "How do you do?"

They're really sayin', "I love you"

I hear babies cryin', I watch them grow

They'll learn much more, than I'll ever know

And I think to myself

What a wonderful world

Yes, I think to myself

What a wonderful world

Oh yeah!

For each section, group members should add content using the "plus sign above the original posts. You should also comment on your classmates posts (whether they are in your group or not).

You may skip the biography if you are short on time & please do not review other students themes before writing your own.

The tone conveyed in the lyrics and song are appreciative and grateful and happy/joyful.