Louis Armstrong Knocked the Beatles Off No. 1 at Age 62
In the middle of Beatlemania, a jazz legend's show tune took the top spot.
In early 1964, the Beatles owned the American charts. They had three straight No. 1 singles in a row and, at one point, held the top five positions on the Billboard Hot 100.
Hello, Dolly!
Louis Armstrong had recorded Hello, Dolly!, the title song of a new Broadway musical, almost as an afterthought. The record took off. On May 9, 1964, it hit No. 1, ending the Beatles' 14-week run at the top.
Oldest at the top
Armstrong was 62, making him the oldest artist at that time to reach No. 1 on the Hot 100. The song also won him a Grammy.
What a Wonderful World
A few years later, in 1967, Armstrong recorded What a Wonderful World. It sold poorly in the United States at first but reached No. 1 in the United Kingdom. Today it is one of the most loved songs ever recorded.
Armstrong began playing cornet as a boy in New Orleans. By the end of his life, he was one of the most famous musicians on the planet.
This story is based on the stars' own interviews and memoirs and on widely reported history. Spotted an error? Tell us and we will correct it.
