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Louis Prima (December 7, 1910<ref name="findagrave.com" /> – August 24, 1978) was an Italian American|Italian-American entertainer, singer, actor, songwriter, and trumpeter. He was referred to as the King of the Swingers. Prima rode the musical trends of his time, starting with his seven-piece New Orleans style jazz band in the 1920s, then successively leading a Swing (genre)|Swing combo in the 1930s, a Big Band in the 1940s, a Las Vegas, Nevada|Vegas lounge music|lounge act in the 1950s, and a pop-rock go-go band in the 1960s. In each of his musical endeavors, he incorporated his exuberant personality into his act.
Biography
Origins
Prima was born into a musical family in New Orleans, Louisiana|New Orleans. His family emigrated from Sicily, and after a brief stay in Argentina settled in the United States. Prima studied violin for several years as a child. His older brother Leon Prima|Leon was a well regarded local bandleader. Prima was proud of his heritage, and made a point of letting the audience know at every performance that he was Italian-American and from New Orleans. His singing and playing showed that he absorbed many of the same influences as his fellow Crescent City musician, Louis Armstrong, particularly in his hoarse voice and scat singing.
In his youth, Prima played trumpet with Irving Fazola, his brother's band, and ... read all
I Even Saw The Lights Of The Goodyear Blimp
