American composer Jerry Herman staged on Broadway in 1964 the musical Hello Dolly, based on the play The Matchmaker by Thornton Wilder. Its main character was the New York matchmaker Dolly Levy, who eventually married one of the clients. She was played by the talented actress Carol Channing.
In the second act, Dolly returns to the Harmonia Gardens restaurant, which she has not visited since the burial of her husband. Here she warmly greets the familiar waiters. This scene is played out in the show’s title track, also called Hello, Dolly!. So that The original songwriter was Carol Channing.. She sings it from Dolly’s perspective.
The history of the creation of the song Hello Dolly – Louis Armstrong
Jazz legend Louis Armstrong, who was then incredibly popular, but appeared less and less in public, sang Hello, Dolly! to advertise the musical. He addresses Dolly in it as if on his own behalf: “Hello, Dolly… This is Louis, Dolly”. A little later, Kapp Records released the song as a single, and it immediately became a hit, was awarded a Grammy Award and topped the charts.
At the same time, the original version of Hello, Dolly!, which was sung by Carol Channing, was also known and loved by the public. The musical became the most successful production in Broadway history. It was played 2844 times. In 1969, the film Hello, Dolly! was released, awarded three Oscars, in which Barbra Streisand played Dolly.
Subsequently, many singers presented their cover versions of “Hello, Dolly!”. The song is included in the Grammy Hall of Fame.
Questions and answers
- Who wrote the song Hello, Dolly?
This is a Jerry Herman composition written for the Broadway musical Hello Dolly, based on the play The Matchmaker by Thornton Wilder.
- Who sang Hello, Dolly?
Carol Channing was the first to sing it, but Louis Armstrong’s version is much more famous in the world.
Interesting Facts
- When the song Hello, Dolly! topped the US charts, 62-year-old Armstrong became the oldest performer who managed to conquer this peak. Prior to that, it was occupied by The Beatles for fourteen weeks with three different compositions.
- Composer Mack David sued Herman for plagiarism. He claimed that in Hello, Dolly! the melody of his composition Sunflower (“Sunflower”) is heard. Jerry Herman claimed that he had never heard this song before, but decided to pay a certain amount anyway, so that the trial would not harm his musical.
Hello, Dolly! – Louis Armstrong
I said hello, Dolly,……well, hello, Dolly
It’s so nice to have you back where you belong
You’re lookin’ swell, Dolly…….i can tell, Dolly
You’re still glowin’…you’re still crowin’…
you’re still going strong
I feel that room swayin’……
while the band’s playin’
One of your old favorite songs from way back
when
So….. take her wrap, fellas…….
find her an empty lap, fellas
Dolly’ll never go away again
I said hello, Dolly,…..well, hello, Dolly
It’s so nice to have you back where you belong
You’re lookin’ swell, Dolly…..i can tell, Dolly
You’re still glowin’…you’re still crowin’…
you’re still going strong
I feel the room swayin’…
while that old band keeps on playing
One of your old favorite songs from way back
when
So…Dolly, gee, fellas….
find her an empty knee, fellas
Dolly’ll never go away….
I said she’ll never go away
Dolly’ll never go away again
Hello, Dolly! – Louis Armstrong
I said hello Dolly… Well hello Dolly
Glad to see you again at home
You look great, Dolly… I’m telling you, Dolly
You are still brilliant, you are still cheerful
you still bloom
The room seems to be rocking…
While the orchestra is playing
One of your favorite old songs from the time
When…
So… Grab her shawl guys…
Find her a free knee guys
Dolly will never leave again…
I said, hello, Dolly… Well, hello, Dolly.
Glad to see you again at home
You look great, Dolly… I’m telling you, Dolly
You are still brilliant, you are still cheerful
you still bloom
The room seems to be rocking…
While the orchestra keeps playing
One of your favorite songs since then
When…
So… Dolly, wow, guys…
Find her a free knee guys
Dolly will never leave again…
I said she’ll never leave again
Dolly will never leave again
