Remembered most for world-changing appearances by Elvis Presley and the Beatles, The Ed Sullivan Show, which aired in prime time from 1948 to 1971, featured artists and celebrities across just about every genre, including jazz. During April, Jazz Appreciation Month, the show’s official YouTube channel will feature full segments of appearances by jazz artists who appeared on the variety show over the course of more than two decades—from Louis Armstrong and Count Basie to Sarah Vaughan and Ella Fitzgerald. Many of these clips are being made available digitally for the first time.

Established by the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, 2022 marks the 21st year of Jazz Appreciation Month, which celebrates the cultural and historic impact of jazz music. The Ed Sullivan Show brought the genre of music to millions of American television viewers. The program has been acknowledged for its pioneering jazz appearances by the Library of Congress, which described The Ed Sullivan Show as “a landmark television program, and unquestionably one of the most important chronicles of mid-20th century popular culture.”

The Ed Sullivan Show YouTube channel features Louis Armstrong’s many appearances, including a 1957 performance of “On The Sunny Side Of The Street.” Additional jazz segments include Rahsaan Roland Kirk (“The Inflated Tears & Haitian Fight Song”—which was the final musical performance on the Ed Sullivan Show as the variety show came to a close in 1971), Ella Fitzgerald (“Bill Bailey, Won’t You Please Come Home”) and, closing the month, performances by Sammy Davis Jr. (“My Kind Of Town Manhattan,” “Night Song” and “What Kind Of Fool Am I”) and Louis Prima, Keely Smith, Sam Butera And The Witnesses (“Show Me The Way To Get Out Of This World ‘Cause That’s Where Everything Is”).

Among the voluminous gems in this vast catalog are iconic clips most of which have not been seen in decades. Universal Music Enterprises uploads new videos daily, including scores of rarities available digitally for the first time to YouTube and EdSullivan.com.