When the Saints Go Marching In is a traditional black gospel hymn from New Orleans. Its exact origins are unclear, but it evolved in the early 1900s from similar gospel songs and was first recorded in 1923 by the Paramount Jubilee Singers. The tune, often misnamed as When the Saints Are Marching In from an 1896 piece by Katharine Purvis and James Milton Black, became a jazz standard after Louis Armstrong and his orchestra recorded it on May 13, 1938 for Decca - released as a single and later included on many compilations. The song is closely associated with New Orleans and has been covered by many artists including Fats Domino and Elvis Presley; it is widely used as an encore, in funerals, and in sports chants. Armstrong's 1938 recording was added to the National Recording Registry in 2021, recognizing its lasting influence.
