What a Wonderful World: A Lifetime of Recordings

Taking the title of his entertaining memoir from a song he co-wrote for Louis Armstrong, record producer Thiele, aided by record executive and producer Golden, reminisces about his long career in the popular-music world. Having founded several private labels (the first in 1939, when he was 17) and been an executive at major recording companies, he knows almost everyone in the business, and anecdotes abound. Thiele describes battles with corporate bosses who wouldn't acknowledge such discoveries as Buddy Holly and the Crickets; the idiosyncrasies of stars he has recorded, among them Duke Ellington, John Coltrane, Judy Garland, Johnny Mercer and Charlie Mingus; making a recording of Jack Kerouac reading his poetry; and numerous encounters with volatile personalities in the fast-paced record industry. He prides himself on making recordings of music he likes, not because he thinks they will be big sellers. (May)