Ain’t Misbehavin’

You’re listening to Louis Armstrong with Ain’t Misbehavin’ , a Fats Waller tune. It was Satchmo’s first big hit in 1929, in the Broadway Revue “Hot Chocolates”. A few years later, he was popular enough to justify a European tour. In Italy, posters of Armstrong’s visage were blown up Mussolini-size, and hung opposite the dictator’s portrait.  King George the Fifth was in attendance at his performance at the Palladium in London. Armstrong acknowledged him with a nod, then said “This one’s for you, Rex”.

So, about that nickname. Armstrong had long been called satchelmouth because of his large, well, satchel-sized mouth. But a London reporter got it all wrong, and “Satchmo” was born.

See him perform this song with Dorothy Dandridge right here, or on our Facebook page.