London, Meander, Pramuk & Ross

London, Meander, Pramuk & Ross: The Royal Bopsters Project

by C. Michael Bailey
August 29, 2015

In the beginning, and by “beginning" I mean the February 26, 1926 commitment to shellac of Boyd Atkins' “Heebie Jeebies" by one Louis Armstrong. Legend has it that Armstrong dropped his lyric sheet while recording the song and no words to sing, began to improvise his vocals, creating scat singing. This was one of the first innovations to occur in jazz vocals, which were essentially being created by Armstrong this this and other recordings. It is not a far reach ...