Ricky Riccardi
speaker
185 appearances
5 recordings
1 series
first heard Jan 2025
last heard Jun 2025
Ricky Riccardi’s voice in public audio — every appearance, attributed to the second.
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Appearances
And Heart Full of Rhythm tells the story of Armstrong becoming the first black pop star and dealing with these Tin Pan Alley songs. And for me, if I... If you ask me to name 10 Armstrong songs, I couldn't do it. Oxford University Press asked me to do that. And I asked them if I can do 20. And we negotiated down to 12 because I couldn't cut anything.
But if you ask me to name one, it's going to be Stardust, recorded by Armstrong and his orchestra, November 4th, 1931. And Stardust might be the most recorded standard of the 20th century. And I just ask you out there, listen to Bing Crosby's version, listen to Nat King Cole, listen to anybody. And you'll hear Hoagy Carmichael's beautiful melody and Mitchell Parrish's poetic lyrics.
And it's, you know, one of those songs that will live forever. Then listen to Armstrong and tell me if he doesn't sound like he came from another planet. Because his interpretation is so personal. He totally changes the melody. He rearranges the lyrics. He throws in bits of scat singing asides. And then he picks up the trumpet and, you know, and makes the angels weep, as Gary Giddens once said.
So to me, Stardust in three minutes. is everything you need to know about Armstrong's impact on pop music of the 20th century. And like I said, it's a perfect next chapter from, you know, the Hot 5 and Hot 7s in New Orleans made him into who he was. And then he took those gifts, shared them with the world, and really changed everything in his path.
Oh, my pleasure, Terry. This has been an honor. And, you know, I always have to leave my closing phrase, pops is tops.
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