My dad saw him at the New York Paramount after the War. He led the whole audience out of the theatre, in a conga line down Broadway, and back inside! Crazy!
Guitar player was Frank Federico, bass player Louis Masinter (my father) clarinet was Meyer Weinberg, I think. Godfrey Hirsch is on vibes and drums. Piano player escapes me. Love this video!!
prima is buried in his home town, new orleans in metairie cemetery. on his large grave is inscriped: "i'm just a gigilo, wherever i go, bu life goes on without me." so appropriate.
That’s crazy. Two guys who aren’t household names, but had a crazy amount of talent for their time-especially considering that the overall population of the planet was considerably smaller-there were way less musicians.
If you are ever in New Orleans, go to the Italian American Museum on South Peters street. On 2nd floor there is a section dedicated to Louie Prima with posters and pics and a history of him and people like Frank Federico and Sam Buttera and the witnesses
We give thanks to Napoleone Buonaparte for bringing in the hundreds of thousands of Sardinians, Corsicans & Southern Italian fisherman to harvest the bountiful waters. They brought the pizazz which turned into nearly 400 years of Jazz.
NOLA was not founded on Puritan values like other American Cities and this is why it's unique. The French like to have fun and the culture and food reflect that.
I was used to seeing Louis Prima in the late 50's and early 60s swinging on stage with Keely Smith. I didn't know he had a band in the 30s. He's so young here. Thanks for this!
When Music was Music.... Thank you for the upload... No one gets close to Luis and his band in song, melody, showmanship, jovialship and monkeyship... The Greatest of all time...
No one had the energy and enjoyment from his music that Louis Prima had; he never stopped moving when the music started; when he performed with Keely Smith, the chemistry between them was something to behold. Roger Plafkin--Plafkin Farms, Ada, Michigan
before my time but i love it! i have all my grandparents records but i think id have to have a victrola? also check out cab calloway with the nicholas brothers on you tube. we dont see talent like this anymore.
Wanna hear something nuts? I remember seeing Louis Prima and Keely Smith do their night club act on the Sullivan show. Prima would cut up and Smith would play straight(wo)man. Not long after, I'd see another couple do similar act geared for a younger audience: Sonny and Cher.
What a great showman. He was to the trumpet what Liberace was to the piano, Les Paul to the guitar, and Buddy Rich to the drums. Not only does he possess an outrageous level of personal expertise on the instrument, but he makes the music about everyone; there’s a sort of a communal feel to it, if you will.
I reckon that a load of 20th century pop owes a lot to Louis Prima. He kick started that 'jumpin' feeling a lot of us felt; you other oldies know exactly what I'm sayin'. Dontcha?
I'm 59 years, I feel I was born in the wrong era. If there's such a thing called a Time Machine I would then dearly like to go back in time. Life then was socially simple and joyful. Louis Prima sang the classic Jive talk song- I wanna be like you (Disney - Jungle Book).
Wonderful to see this! A mimed performance but I think that was the norm even back then (easier to get quality sound, less stage clutter, etc) It's funny though to see Louis's solo break at 2:56 - we hear a muted trumpet but there's no mute in sight! Then at 3:19 the mute appears as if by magic!
I'm in my 30's and love this also.I love Meyer Weinberg on Clarinet,loved his solo of 'Show Me The Way To Go Home' from Louis Prima Chronological 1937-1939.
I love the way the big bands "jazzed up" old songs. I don't think it sounds so good, but it is such an expression of the vitality and confidence of the era -- we're going to make it swing!
in my pe class we play games on quizziz and kahoot and whoever wins gets to pick the music for the next days "do-now" i swear to god if i ever win i am picking this song no question about it.
Just by watching and listening to his band, you can tell that they were taming things down to appeal to middle America. However, they were good enough to play and win over any audience even those in clubs like the Cotton Club...they would have raised their game to match their audience that's how talented and adaptable they were. Just watch and listen some of his most impromptu performances on RU-vid and you'll see how good his band and he were at their best.
Machine GunNz Rob I think these are the names of the songs: Way Down Yonder in New Orleans, I Can’t Give You Anything But Love, and Loch Lomond. There’s a song before Loch Lomond, but I don’t know the name of it :(
They had to do that for sound purposes but it's him playing without a doubt! He was an amazing actor, singer, musician and dancer! Way ahead of his time, no one like Louis Prima!
