Weather Bird

"Weather Bird" is a musical composition by Joe Oliver.^[2] However Thomas Brothers has suggested that it was composed by Louis Armstrong, because Armstrong sent a lead sheet of "Weather Bird Rag" to Washington, D.C. for copyright in April 1923^[3]: 108 and that, despite its 1923 copyright date, it was composed by Armstrong during his time on the Mississippi river boats.^[3]: 313

On December 5, 1928, Louis Armstrong and Earl Hines recorded it as a duet between trumpet and piano.^[2][4][5][6] That recording is regarded as the "most famous duet in jazz history".^[7] (In fact, it was issued by Okeh Records as Louis Armstrong's "trumpet solo with piano accompaniment by Earl Hines"^[1] and is sometimes considered a solo.^[4] Armstrong had also performed the composition before, as second cornet with Oliver's Creole Jazz Band in 1923.^[2]) Citing its improvisational sound, Brothers describes this recording as "fun and exceptional, a worthy document of a unique musical friendship."^{[3]: 313–17}