Louis Armstrong’s 'What a Wonderful World' receives historic 5x Platinum Certification

Legendary jazz musician Louis Armstrong’s track 'What a Wonderful World' has been certified 5x Platinum by the RIAA, meaning the original recording has generated more than 5 million US sales since its first release in 1967.

Verve Records has released a recording of Armstrong’s live performance of 'What a Wonderful World' on the BBC Studios in 1968 to coincide with the certification.

Inducted to the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999, 'What A Wonderful World' is among the world’s best-selling standards of all time.

The song’s international certifications include becoming 5x Platinum in Canada; 1.5 Platinum in Germany; and Platinum in the UK, Denmark, Italy, France, and Spain.

The new RIAA certification was accepted by fellow trumpeter and President of the Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation, Wynton Marsalis, on behalf of Louis Armstrong and the Louis Armstrong Estate.

Louis In London, an album consisting of live recordings of Armstrong at the BBC on July 2, 1968, is set to be released by Verve Records on July 12.

The 13-song collection features six previously unreleased tracks: ‘What A Wonderful World’, ‘(Back Home Again) In Indiana’, ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’, ‘Ole Miss’, ‘Blueberry Hill’, and ‘Hello, Dolly!’.

The album will be accompanied by exclusive liner notes by Armstrong’s biographer and Director of Research Collections for the Louis Armstrong House Museum, Ricky Riccardi.

In July 1968, Armstrong and his renowned band, The All-Stars, performed at BBC’s London studios, which was first broadcast on September 22, 1968 as BBC TV’s Show Of The Week – Louis Armstrong.

Armstrong was known to have sent copies of the BBC concert to friends and played them whenever he received visitors.

More than five decades since his passing, the live performances will be available for listening on Louis In London.

“Knowing how badly he wanted his friends and fans to hear this music while he was still alive,” writes Ricky Riccardi in the album’s exclusive liner notes, “it’s a great source of pride to know that it will now be enjoyed by new generations, including many fans who weren’t even alive at the time Armstrong passed, but who are still inspired by his music and his joy.

“Armstrong once claimed he was here ‘in the cause of happiness.’ All these decades later, albums like Louis In London continue his life’s mission at a time when we still need to be reminded that maybe it still is a wonderful world and maybe we’ll never walk alone after all.”

Watch Louis Armstrong’s performance of 'What a Wonderful World' and listen to the track below.