Almost as bizarre as the Jimi Hendrix Experience opening for The Monkees on their 1967 U.S. tour, here is
Louis Armstrong in a 1964
Suzy Cute toy commercial. Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong is widely considered to be the most important jazz musician to have ever lived. It is reasonable to believe popular music would be completely different had he never picked up a trumpet. 1964 was the year his version of
"Hello Dolly" went to #1. So why would he have agreed to do
this commercial? It seems demeaning, but what do I know? For better or worse, it would appear (based on the recording of
this ad lib/rehearsal of the "Suzy Cute" jingle from
this site) that Armstrong was directly involved in its creation.The money
must have been good!
Here Louis, lend your talent and fame to this little tiny doll:
"You press her tummy, her arms go up!"
It just seems wrong somehow...
Why Louis, why?
There's nothing little white girls love more than sweaty black men and New Orleans-style jazz!
