{"id":176427816,"date":"2013-11-12T02:12:15","date_gmt":"2013-11-12T08:12:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/kalamu.com\/neogriot\/?p=176427816"},"modified":"2013-11-12T02:12:15","modified_gmt":"2013-11-12T08:12:15","slug":"literature-satchmos-letter-to-a-marine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kalamu.com\/neogriot\/2013\/11\/12\/literature-satchmos-letter-to-a-marine\/","title":{"rendered":"LITERATURE: Satchmo\u2019s Letter to a Marine"},"content":{"rendered":"

 <\/p>\n

Satchmo\u2019s Letter to a Marine<\/span><\/h2>\n
\"Louis<\/a>

Louis Armstrong, 1965<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>
\nIn 1967, Marine Lance Corporal Villec, stationed in Vietnam, wrote a fan letter to Louis Armstrong. What\u2019s reproduced here is the jazz great\u2019s amazing reposnse to that piece of fan mail \u2014 at once intimate, heartfelt, and wonderful. You see in its pages (it\u2019s five handwritten pages) a breezy familiarity with a man, we can only assume, Armstrong had never met in person, and a willingness to be frank and thoughtful about his own life\u2019s work and its challenges.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Armstrong\u2019s unique punctuation \u2014 with unexpected capitalizations, underlinings and quotation marks \u2014 is preserved here.<\/span>
\n\u00a0<\/span>
\n\u00a0<\/span>
\n\u00a0<\/span>
\n\u00a0<\/span>
\n34\u201456\u2014107 St.<\/span>
\nCorona New York\u2019<\/span>
\nU.S.A.<\/span><\/p>\n

Dear L\/Cpl, Villec\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019d like to \u2018step in here for a \u2018Minute or \u2018so\u2019 to \u201dtell you how much\u2014I \u2018feel to know that \u2018you are a \u2018Jazz fan, and \u2018Dig\u2019 \u2018that \u2018Jive\u2014the \u2018same as \u2018we<\/span>\u00a0\u2018do, \u201cyeah.\u201d \u201cMan<\/span>\u2014I carry an \u2018Album, \u2018loaded with \u2018Records<\/span>\u2014\u2019Long playing \u2018that is. And when I am \u2018Shaving<\/span>\u00a0or \u2018Sitting on the \u2018Throne with \u2018Swiss Kriss<\/span>\u2018 in me\u2014That<\/span>\u00a0Music \u2018sure \u2018brings out those \u2018Riffs\u2019 \u2018Right Along with \u2018Swiss Kriss, which I \u2018take \u2018every night or when I\u00a0go<\/span>\u00a0to bed. \u2018Yeah<\/span>. I give myself a \u2018Concert with those \u2018records. \u2018Music is \u2018life it\u2019self. What would this \u2018world be without \u2018good music? No matter \u2018what kind it is.<\/span><\/p>\n

It \u2018all came from the Old \u2018Sanctified \u2018Churches. I can remember\u2014\u2019way<\/span>\u00a0back in the \u2018old days in \u2018New Orleans, La\u2014\u2019My home town. And I was a little Boy around \u2018ten years old. My Mother used to take me to \u2018Church with her, and the Reverend (\u2018Preacher that is\u2019) used to \u2018lead<\/span>\u00a0off one\u2019 of those \u2018good\u00a0ol<\/span>\u00a0good \u2018Hymns. And before you realized it\u2014the \u2018whole \u2018Congregation would be \u201cWailing<\/span>\u2014\u2019Singing like \u2018mad and \u2018sound so \u2018beautiful. \u2018I \u2018being a little boy that would \u201cDig\u201d \u2018Everything and \u2018everybody, I\u2019d have myself a \u2018Ball in \u2018Church,\u00a0especially<\/span>\u00a0when those \u2018Sisters \u2018would get \u2018So \u2018Carried away while \u201cRev\u201d (the preacher) would be \u2018right in the \u2018Middle of his \u2018Sermon. \u2018Man<\/span>\u00a0those \u2018Church \u2018Sisters would \u2018begin<\/span>\u00a0\u2018Shouting \u2018So\u2014until their \u2018petticoats would \u2018fall<\/span>\u00a0off. Of course \u2018one of the \u2018Deacons would \u2018rush over and \u2018grab her\u2014\u2019hold her in his \u2018Arms and \u2018fan her until \u2018she\u2019d \u2018Come<\/span>\u00a0\u2018to.<\/span><\/p>\n

Then there were those \u201cBaptisms\u2014that\u2019s when someone wants to be\u00a0converted<\/span>\u00a0by Joining the \u2018Church and get \u2018religion<\/span>. So they have to be \u2018Baptized<\/span>. \u2018Dig this\u2014I remember \u2018one Sunday the \u2018Church had a \u2018great big\u00a0Guy<\/span>they had to \u2018Baptize. So these \u2018Deacons all \u2018Standing in this \u2018River\u2014in \u2018Water up to their\u00a0waist<\/span>\u00a0in their \u2018white \u2018Robes. They had \u2018Baptized \u2018several \u2018women and a few \u2018Men\u2014\u2019saved their \u2018Souls. When in \u2018Walks\u2019 a \u2018Great<\/span>\u2018big\u2019 \u2018burly \u2018Sinner<\/span>\u2018 who came down the line. So\u2014\u2019these \u2018Deacons whom were \u2018very \u2018strong \u2018themselves, they grabbed \u2018hold of this \u2018Cat<\/span>\u00a0and said to him as they \u2018ducked him down into the water, as they let him they asked him\u2014\u201dBrother<\/span>\u00a0\u2018do you \u2018Believe?\u201d The Guy didn\u2019t say \u2018anything\u2014Just looked at them. So they \u2018Ducked him down into that \u2018River again, \u2018only they \u2018held him down there a \u2018few minutes \u2018Longer. So when the \u2018Deacons looked in the guy\u2019s\u00a0eye<\/span>\u00a0and said to him\u2014\u201dDo you \u2018Believe?\u201d This Guy finally \u2018answered\u2014he said \u201cYes<\/span>\u2014I Believe you \u2018Son of Bitches<\/span>\u00a0trying to \u2018drown me<\/span>.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

P.S. I guess you think I\u2019m \u2018Nuts. \u2018Nay \u2018Nay. I only \u2018mentioned these incidents because it all was \u2018built around \u2018Music. In fact, it\u2019s \u2018All Music. \u201cYou \u2018Dig? The \u2018Same as we did in my \u2018Home Town \u2018New Orleans\u2019\u2014those \u2018Funeral Marches etc. \u201cWhy \u2018Gate<\/span>\u201d \u2018Villec<\/span>, we \u2018played those \u2018Marches with \u2018feeling from our \u2018hearts. \u2018All the way to the Cemetery\u2014\u2019Brass Band of course. The \u2018Snare drummer would put a \u2018handkerchief under the \u2018snares of his \u2018drum to \u2018deaden the \u2018Sound while \u2018playing on the way to the Cemetery\u2014\u201dFlee as a Bird.\u201d But as \u2018soon as the \u2018preacher \u2018say \u201cAshes to \u2018Ashes\u2014\u2019Dust to \u2018Dust\u201d\u2014the \u201cSnare Drummer<\/span>\u00a0Commence \u2018pulling the handkerchief from his \u2018drum, and make a \u2018long roll\u2019 to \u2018assemble everybody, including the members of the \u2018dead man\u2019s \u2018Lodge\u2014or \u2018Club. \u2018Then we\u2019d \u2018return \u2018back to the \u2018headquarters \u2018playing \u201cDidn\u2019t he \u2018Ramble\u201d or \u201cWhen the Saints Go Marching In.\u201d\u00a0You<\/span>\u00a0\u2018See<\/span>? \u2018Still<\/span>\u00a0Music<\/span>.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

I said \u2018All of that to Keep \u2018Music in your \u2018heart the \u2018same as \u2018you\u2019re \u2018doing. And \u2018Daddy<\/span>\u2014you \u2018Can\u2019t<\/span>\u00a0\u2018go \u2018wrong. \u2018Myself and my \u2018All Stars\u2019 are \u2018Playing here at the \u2018Harrods \u2018Club (Reno) for \u2018Three weeks. My \u2018wife \u2018Lucille as \u2018joined me here. The \u2018rest will do her\u00a0lots<\/span>\u00a0of\u00a0good<\/span>. She was \u2018operated on for a \u2018Tumor, about the \u2018Middle of \u2018July. She\u2019s\u00a0improving<\/span>\u00a0\u2018very \u2018Rapidly. Her \u2018Doctor who \u2018operated on her at the \u2018Beth \u2018Israel Hospital\u2019 in New York told her\u2014\u2019She could go to \u2018Reno and \u2018spend some time if \u2018you (Lucille) + your \u2018husband (Satchmo) \u2018promised to \u2018behave \u2018yourselves and \u2018don\u2019t try to \u2018do the \u201cVonce<\/span>\u201d (\u201cmeaning \u2018Sex<\/span>). I \u2018Said\u2014\u201dDoc I \u2018Promise\u2014But I\u2019ll \u2018Just \u2018touch it \u2018lightly every \u2018morning\u2014to see if\u00a0it\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0\u2018still \u2018there. \u2018Ha \u2018Ha. \u2018Life\u2019s \u2018sweet. \u2018Just the \u2018thought that \u2018Lucille is \u2018through with her \u2018little \u2018Hindrance\u2014and \u201csoon \u201cbe\u00a0well<\/span>\u00a0and \u2018happy\u2014\u2019be \u2018her \u2018lil<\/span>\u00a0\u2018ol<\/span>\u00a0\u2018cute<\/span>\u00a0\u2018self<\/span>\u00a0\u2018again\u2014\u2019Just \u201cknock\u2019s\u2019\u00a0me<\/span>\u00a0out<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018Well \u2018Bre\u2019r \u2018Villec, I guess I\u2019ll \u2018put<\/span>\u00a0it \u2018down, and get some \u2018shut<\/span>\u00a0eye<\/span>.\u201d\u00a0It\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0the \u2018Wee \u2018hours in the \u2018Morning.\u00a0I\u2019ve<\/span>\u2018Just<\/span>\u00a0\u2018finished \u2018Work. I am\u00a0too<\/span>\u00a0\u2018tired<\/span>\u00a0to \u2018raise an \u2018eye<\/span>\u00a0\u2018lid<\/span>. Tee hee. So I\u2019ll leave this little message with you. \u201cHere goes\u2019.<\/span><\/p>\n

When you \u2018Walk\u2014through a \u2018Storm\u2014<\/span>
\nPut your \u2018Head<\/span>\u2014up<\/span>\u00a0\u2018high<\/span>\u2014<\/span>
\nAnd \u2018Don\u2019t be Afraid of the \u2018Dark\u2014<\/span>
\nAt the \u2018End of a \u2018Storm\u2014<\/span>
\nIs a \u2018Gol-den \u2018Sky\u2014<\/span>
\nAnd a Sweet\u00a0Silver<\/span>\u00a0\u2018Song\u2014<\/span>
\nOf a \u2018Lark\u2014<\/span>
\n\u2018Walk\u2014\u2019on\u2014through the \u2018Wind\u2014<\/span>
\n\u2018Walk\u2014\u2019on\u2014through the \u2018Rain\u2014<\/span>
\nThough your \u2018Dreams<\/span>\u00a0be \u201cTossed and \u2018Blown\u2014<\/span>
\n\u2018Walk\u2014\u2019on\u2014\u2019Walk\u2014\u2019on\u2014<\/span>
\nWith \u2018Hope in your heart<\/span>
\nAnd \u2018You\u2019ll \u2018Nev-er<\/span>\u00a0\u2018Walk \u2018A-\u2019lone<\/span>\u2014<\/span>
\nYou\u2019ll \u2018Nev-er<\/span>\u00a0\u2018Walk A-lone<\/span>\u2014<\/span>
\n(one more time)<\/span>
\n\u2018Walk\u2014\u2019on\u2014\u2019Walk\u2014\u2019on\u2014with \u2018Hope in your \u2018heart\u2014And \u2018you\u2019ll<\/span>
\nNev-er<\/span>\u00a0\u2018Walk \u2018A-lone<\/span>\u2014\u2019You\u2019ll \u2018Nev-er<\/span>\u00a0\u2018Walk<\/span>\u2014\u2019A-lone<\/span>\u2014. \u201cSavvy?<\/span><\/p>\n

Give my regards to the fellows that\u2019s in your company. And the other fellows too. And now I\u2019ll do you \u2018Just like the \u2018Farmer did the \u2018Potato\u2014I\u2019ll \u2018Plant you \u2018Now and \u2018Dig you \u2018later. I\u2019ll \u2018Close now. It\u2019s a\u00a0real<\/span>\u00a0\u2018Pleasure \u2018Writing\u2014\u2019You.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSwiss Krissly\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Satchmo<\/span>
\nLouis Armstrong<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

++++++++++++++\u00a0<\/span>
\nThis letter is taken from\u00a0Louis Armstrong, In His Own Words: Selected Writings<\/em>. For more on \u201cSwiss Kriss,\u201d a brand of herbal laxative, see\u00a0this story<\/span><\/a>\u00a0from NPR.<\/span>
\n\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

>via:\u00a0http:\/\/www.musicinsideout.org\/louis\/2013\/11\/10\/a-letter-for-veterans-day\/<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  Satchmo\u2019s Letter to a Marine   \u00a0 In 1967, Marine Lance Corporal Villec, stationed in Vietnam, wrote a fan letter to Louis Armstrong. What\u2019s reproduced here is the jazz great\u2019s amazing reposnse to that piece of fan mail \u2014 at once intimate, heartfelt, and wonderful. You see in its pages (it\u2019s five handwritten pages) […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","_s2mail":"yes"},"categories":[6],"tags":[4,12,11],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kalamu.com\/neogriot\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/176427816"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kalamu.com\/neogriot\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kalamu.com\/neogriot\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kalamu.com\/neogriot\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kalamu.com\/neogriot\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=176427816"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/kalamu.com\/neogriot\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/176427816\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":176427822,"href":"https:\/\/kalamu.com\/neogriot\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/176427816\/revisions\/176427822"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kalamu.com\/neogriot\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=176427816"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kalamu.com\/neogriot\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=176427816"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kalamu.com\/neogriot\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=176427816"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}