My Father, Louis Armstrong and Jazz Singer Velma Middleton.
Todayis my Father's Birthday and I am dedicating this song to him. I hope Louis plays the trumpet while Velma sings Happy Birthday. Here is the story that my mother Shirle Ibeawuchi told me tonight about my father and Velma.
Velma Middleton (born ca. 1917, died February 10, 1961) was an American jazz vocalist born in Holdenville, OK, best known for having sung with Louis Armstrong's big bands and small groups. Born in Oklahoma, Velma later moved with her parents to St. Louis, MO. She was with Armstrong from 1942 to 1961, This African tour with Louis Armstrong was sponsored by the US state department and Pepsi Cola. He was criticized by some for going on this tour when he couldn’t even play most venues in his home town of New Orleans.
Before preforming in Nigeria they were in Ghana where Ms. Middleton broke the stage. My father was plant manager at Pepsico Nigeria in the town of Onitshia. He was told to build the stage for the concert and make sure it was strong enough for Velma who was known for her dancing and doing the splits on stage. So after the stage was built he had 10 men jump around on the stage to make sure it was strong enough. In the video you will see her dancing…The concert went off without a hitch. Unfortunately, she had a stroke in Africa on the next tour stop and died one month later in the Hill Station Hospital in Sierra Leone. Rest in Peace Louis, Velma and Daddy.
Todayis my Father's Birthday and I am dedicating this song to him. I hope Louis plays the trumpet while Velma sings Happy Birthday. Here is the story that my mother Shirle Ibeawuchi told me tonight about my father and Velma.
Velma Middleton (born ca. 1917, died February 10, 1961) was an American jazz vocalist born in Holdenville, OK, best known for having sung with Louis Armstrong's big bands and small groups. Born in Oklahoma, Velma later moved with her parents to St. Louis, MO. She was with Armstrong from 1942 to 1961, This African tour with Louis Armstrong was sponsored by the US state department and Pepsi Cola. He was criticized by some for going on this tour when he couldn’t even play most venues in his home town of New Orleans.
Before preforming in Nigeria they were in Ghana where Ms. Middleton broke the stage. My father was plant manager at Pepsico Nigeria in the town of Onitshia. He was told to build the stage for the concert and make sure it was strong enough for Velma who was known for her dancing and doing the splits on stage. So after the stage was built he had 10 men jump around on the stage to make sure it was strong enough. In the video you will see her dancing…The concert went off without a hitch. Unfortunately, she had a stroke in Africa on the next tour stop and died one month later in the Hill Station Hospital in Sierra Leone. Rest in Peace Louis, Velma and Daddy.
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