Adam Kampe: Do you recall the first time you heard Louis Armstrong?
Phoebe Jacobs: Yes. My father was working in Ross Fenton Farms in Deal, New Jersey. I was staying at the Kingsley Arms Hotel and there was a Chinese restaurant downstairs. It was…no air conditioning…cause this was 1930, about 1930. And the Chinese restaurant had a jukebox. And I heard this voice singing “Stardust.” Man!!! And that did something. I just didn’t know who it was. I’d never heard of Louis Armstrong. But from then on in, that was it.
“Stardust” hot and under at “oooo”
Sometimes I wonder why I spend
Such lonely nights
Oh baby such lonely nights
Dreaming of a song
Melody, memory
And I am once again with you
When our love was new
And each kiss an inspiration
Not that, baby no, long ago, oooo
Phoebe Jacobs: When you get to know Louis, when you hear his music, when you read about him, it’s almost like he’s a force. He excites you, he’s therapeutic, he’s relaxing, he’s just wonderful. It was no accident that he was so beloved all over the world. He was dedicated and passionate about performing for people.
Stardust and up and hot
My stardust melody,
Oh memory…oh memory….
Music credit:Excerpt of “Stardust” composed by Hoagy Carmichael and written by Mitchell Parrish from the box set, Louis Armstrong: Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man [1923-1934], used courtesy of Sony Music Entertainment. Used by permission of Peer Music and EMI Music Publishing. Many thanks to Oscar Cohen and Lisa Cohen of Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation Inc.