“What A Wonderful World”

Towering Song

“What A Wonderful World,” with words and music by George David Weiss and Bob Thiele, was recorded by Louis Armstrong in 1967 for ABC Records. 

It was created in order to cut through the racial tensions of the 1960’s but due to a lack of promotion, it did not succeed as a single on its first issue in the United States, although it topped the charts in many other countries. 

The song came to renewed attention after Armstrong’s recording of it was featured on the soundtrack of the 1987 film Good Morning, Vietnam. 

The song has since been recorded by many other performers and is a beloved contemporary standard. Louis Armstrong’s version was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999.