Louis Armstrong’s Birthday, Muggles and Star of David ~ New on the Bryan William Brickner Blog

Muggles 7 December 1928

Celebrating Louis Armstrong’s Birthday and honoring his life, author Bryan W. Brickner notes Earl Hines and Armstrong’s 1928 Chicago recording of Muggles, named after one of pot’s nicknames. Brickner has a 1997 political science doctorate from Purdue University and is the author of The Promise Keepers (1999), Article the first of the Bill of Rights (2006), and The Book of the Is (2013).

In Louis Armstrong’s Birthday, Muggles and Star of David, new on the Bryan William Brickner Blog, Armstrong’s legacy is noted through his work and the way he lived; utilizing quotes from the 2001 tribute, From Lincoln Center – Louis Armstrong: Master Interpreter, Brickner echoes the praise of Ed Bradley (of 60 Minutes fame) to highlight Armstrong’s Chicago music-making days and the 1928 song Muggles.

“Earl Hines and Armstrong recorded Muggles in Chicago, 7 December 1928,” commented Brickner, “which meant cannabis was legal and alcohol was illegal. When things switched ~ pot became illegal in 1937 and alcohol prohibition was repealed in 1933 ~ Armstrong never understood what all the cannabis fuss was about.”

“In the Lincoln Center program,” Brickner continued, “as the evening discussed Armstrong, his music, and his cannabis use, they only talked about it in a general way; Bradley did tell the story of Muggles and the song was performed by trumpeter Nicholas Payton and pianist Eric Reed.”

“Also, Armstrong wore a Star of David from his childhood,” Brickner noted; “he wore it in remembrance of something he learned while growing up in New Orleans: basically, how to live peacefully and well.”

“Many talents he had,” closed Brickner, “and he helped lots of people with his music and character: Happy Birthday Louis ~ and thank you.”

The Bryan William Brickner Blog is an ongoing resource for the political science of constitutions and the biological science of receptors.

The Book of the Is: A book on bridges (2013) is available at online retailers.