To stay off the stage. Armstrong couldnt do it. [band playing the saints go marching in] narrator in july of 1970, george wein staged a celebration at newport for armstrongs 70th birthday. Many of the musicians with whom he had played over the years had come back to be with him. Wein he was ill for a couple of years, and. And he was quite frail. The doctor didnt want him to play, but he allowed him to come to newport. Its this. Reenergizing when the opportunity for him to do what he wanted to do and to know that he was out there reaching people. And he put everything he had into that evening. Narrator wein wanted to save armstrongs strength, and suggested he simply walk onstage unannounced, rather than sing his theme song. Armstrong, weak as he was, wouldnt hear of it. Giddins it was very important for an entertainer to have a theme song, because only the really great ones had songs that instantly meant them. So Louis Armstrong had a sentimental southern tune sleepytime down south. He