A lot of folks may not realize how influential Louis' style of singing was in the popular music of the 20's and 30's. Bing Crosby owes much of his popularity to Louis, a major influence on Bing. Prior to Louis' vocals, pop music consisted of the crooning of effete tenor singers. Louis phrased in a jazz manner and changed the style of pop singing forever.

I personally love everything Louis ever sang any time and it's also interesting to note that one of his favorite bands was....are you ready?.....Guy Lombardo.

Louis had the capacity for appreciating all kinds of music and never put anyone down. He was a towering figure in American music and a major influence.

There has never been a singer like him since. He sang with conviction, humor, magenetism and aside from being the king of jazz musicians, he was an extroardinary showman. I had the privilege of hearing him live at concerts held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles playing with Jack Teagarden, Barney Bigard, Arvell Shaw and Cozy Cole. A fine band.

As a human being, he was generous. He gave away his first million dollars to others and supplied bags of coal during one of his concerts in the winter Northeast to people in need.

He was a major contributor to the NAACP as well.

He traveled with integrated bands when in was dangerous to do so.

I can't think of a more extraordinary musician who was a great humanitarian, musically sophisticated, and yet down to earth where the people are.

Pops lives!

Frank