[Dixielandjazz] Struttin' With Some Barbecue

[Bill Haesler]

Dear Steve,
Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
Well, you know that great 20th century axiom: "It must be true, it was 
in the newspapers".
Yes. I know that account regarding "Struttin' With Some Barbecue" 
quoted in Thomas Brothers' 'Louis Armstrong. In His Own Words' (Oxford 
University Press, 1999) but remember, it comes from Louis' 1951 
interview for 'Esquire' magazine. 24 years after "Struttin'......" was 
recorded in December 1927 when Okeh (and by extension Louis) was happy 
to approve the [Hardin] composer credit.
When the January 1938 Louis Armstrong Orchestra version of 
'Struttin'....." was released, Decca cleverly gave credit on the label 
to (Armstrong). Lil's lawful name at that time.
Do you also accept Louis' fanciful story about dropping the lyric sheet 
during the recording of "Heebie Jeebies" thereby inventing 'scat 
singing'? (Bergreen, also page 131)?
Or Louis authorship claim on page 136 for Miss Lil's "Hotter Than That"?
Laurence Bergreen who wrote 'Louis Armstrong An Extravagant Life' 
(1998. Harper Collins) is an excellent, readable research writer with a 
few fine books to his credit. (I have those on Capone and Irving 
Berlin.)
However, he certainly relied heavily on previously published material.
(Unfortunately, a few of the 'facts' and opinions on other matters in 
the Louis book are plainly wrong.)
And as you know, when Joe Glaser ruthlessly and successfully 'assumed' 
Louis' affairs in 1935 he apparently hated Lil Armstrong with a passion 
and wanted her well out of the way.
Murky at best? I agree. But you did ask for my opinion.
8>)
Did Louis lie? You can bet he did. If embellishing the truth is lying. 
The older jazz musicians did it all the time.
Perhaps, because Louis was the greatest jazzman that ever lived, we 
also expect him to be a brilliant composer.
But by all accounts he wasn't and has too few sole compositions to his 
credit, notwithstanding the long ASCAP listing.
Nothing wrong with that. There were many great musicians who didn't 
contribute to the jazz lexicon. And there were quite a few musical 
journeymen who wrote some magnificent songs.
Louis would certainly have contributed to some of Lil's early 
compositions. As did King Oliver (and he to hers.)
The lure of royalties wasn't so important back then. It was what our 
early music was all about.
Kind regards,
Bill (please don't confuse me with facts, my mind's made up!).