Louis Armstrong walked onto the BBC stage in 1968 with a trumpet in hand and a lifetime in his voice. He sang “A Kiss to Build a Dream On” as if it were both prayer and farewell. Each note carried the grit of New Orleans and the tenderness of a goodbye. It was one of his final gifts cherished until the very end.
The cameras rolled inside London’s BBC studios for Show of the Week. July’s summer air outside clashed with the cool formality of the set but Armstrong warmed it instantly. His All Stars played behind him, the brass glowing under lights. As he leaned into the microphone the performance shifted from television special to timeless testament of his art.
Louis Armstrong – A Kiss to Build a Dream On – 1968 BBC TV Performance [DES STEREO]
Viewers still revisit that recording with reverence. “Pure magic,” one comment reads while others recall parents who played the vinyl endlessly. The clip has become a keepsake not just a concert. Nostalgia bleeds through every frame; for many it is the memory of Pops himself, immortalized with a smile and trumpet.
The BBC session proved Armstrong’s voice could still soothe and command even near the end of his life. Yet the magic was not confined to that stage. The official audio release captured years earlier carried the same dreamlike quality, reminding listeners why this ballad endured as one of his signature songs.
Louis Armstrong – A Kiss To Build A Dream On (Audio)
Originally written by Bert Kalmar, Harry Ruby and Oscar Hammerstein II the song found immortality in Armstrong’s 1951 Decca recording. His gravel-warm voice turned simple lyrics into gospel. Critics hailed it as tender yet unbreakable while fans clung to its promise. It mattered because Armstrong could make romance feel universal, fragile and eternal all at once.
Decades on the BBC performance and the audio still draw millions of replays. YouTube’s comment sections read like love letters, strangers tied together by Pops’ timeless tone. Watch the restored clip, listen to the original track, share them, save them. This is not just history; it is Armstrong’s everlasting dream.