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Born on this day in 1910, Louis Prima
Hat tip, ThisDayInRock:
1911 – Louis Prima, whose unhinged performances and trumpet prowess made him a swing icon, is born in New Orleans.
Per Wikipedia, 1910 is the correct year. I'll link to some existing videos at DU.
Louis Prima
Prima in 1947
Background information
Also known as: The King of Swing
Born: December 7, 1910, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Died: August 24, 1978 (aged 67), New Orleans, Louisiana
Genres: Jazz, swing, traditional pop, jump blues, big band
Occupation(s): Musician, entertainer, bandleader
Instruments: Vocals, trumpet
Years active: 1929–1975
Labels: Capitol, Dot
Associated acts: Gia Maione, Keely Smith, Sam Butera (and the Witnesses), Lou Sino
Website: www.louisprima.com
Louis Leo Prima (December 7, 1910 – August 24, 1978) was an American singer, actor, songwriter, bandleader, and trumpeter. While rooted in New Orleans jazz, swing music, and jump blues, Prima touched on various genres throughout his career: he formed a seven-piece New Orleans-style jazz band in the late 1920s, fronted a swing combo in the 1930s and a big band group in the 1940s, helped to popularize jump blues in the late 1940s and early to mid 1950s, and performed frequently as a Vegas lounge act beginning in the 1950s.
From the 1940s through the 1960s, his music further encompassed early R&B and rock'n'roll, boogie-woogie, and even Italian folk music, such as the tarantella. Prima made prominent use of Italian music and language in his songs, blending elements of his Italian identity with jazz and swing music. At a time when "ethnic" musicians were often discouraged from openly stressing their ethnicity, Prima's conspicuous embrace of his Italian ethnicity opened the doors for other Italian-American and "ethnic" American musicians to display their ethnic roots.
Prima in 1947
Background information
Also known as: The King of Swing
Born: December 7, 1910, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Died: August 24, 1978 (aged 67), New Orleans, Louisiana
Genres: Jazz, swing, traditional pop, jump blues, big band
Occupation(s): Musician, entertainer, bandleader
Instruments: Vocals, trumpet
Years active: 1929–1975
Labels: Capitol, Dot
Associated acts: Gia Maione, Keely Smith, Sam Butera (and the Witnesses), Lou Sino
Website: www.louisprima.com
Louis Leo Prima (December 7, 1910 – August 24, 1978) was an American singer, actor, songwriter, bandleader, and trumpeter. While rooted in New Orleans jazz, swing music, and jump blues, Prima touched on various genres throughout his career: he formed a seven-piece New Orleans-style jazz band in the late 1920s, fronted a swing combo in the 1930s and a big band group in the 1940s, helped to popularize jump blues in the late 1940s and early to mid 1950s, and performed frequently as a Vegas lounge act beginning in the 1950s.
From the 1940s through the 1960s, his music further encompassed early R&B and rock'n'roll, boogie-woogie, and even Italian folk music, such as the tarantella. Prima made prominent use of Italian music and language in his songs, blending elements of his Italian identity with jazz and swing music. At a time when "ethnic" musicians were often discouraged from openly stressing their ethnicity, Prima's conspicuous embrace of his Italian ethnicity opened the doors for other Italian-American and "ethnic" American musicians to display their ethnic roots.
This weekend's tunes: Johnny Cash, Louis Prima, and Sam Butera
Louis Prima and the absolutely gorgeous Keeley Smith!
My dad always liked Louis Prima.
9 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read
My mom used to play the Prima & Keeley LP all the time.
My favourite song was Coolin 
Do yourself a favor sometime and listen to Louis back to back with David Lee Roth era Van Halen. You'll be blown away. It becomes obvious Dave's parents listened to a lot of Louis when he was a kid.
Nice link in the original post by the way. 
