Louis Leo Prima was born in New Orleans on December 7, 1910, he died on August 24, 1978 at age 67. When we think about some of the great male vocalists from the middle of the 20th Century, Louis Prima may not be at the top of the list. The first big star was Bing Crosby as a solo male vocalist he debuted in 193I and has sold more records than anyone. Right behind him were the truly class acts of Nat King Cole and Louis Armstrong. Many might think of Frank Sinatra who was the first of the Big Band era singers to make the transition to front man and superstardom. Followed by other Crooners such as Dean Martin and Tony Bennett. The latter three were of Italian descent, if we are to go there with the ‘big’ names then we are adding Perry Como and Al Martino at the very least. Bobby Darin was wedged in the middle before and during the time that Rock and Roll arrived. Then we can add Dion, Frankie Vali and Lou Christie.

Louis Prima was the first member of the club and a first generation Italian-American, so how does he fit in to this story? To begin with, Prima was able to do it all. He is the composer of one of the most well known and recognizable Jazz songs of the Big Band/Swing era. “Sing, Sing, Sing” is a Standard with over 180 versions. I defy you to find a Big Band or Jazz ensemble that does not know that song. He also wrote several other well known numbers such as “Jump, Jive an’ Wail” and co-wrote “A Sunday Kind of Love”, recorded over 120 times. Yet he is remarkably over looked. His name does not come up on the Wikipedia pages for either Big Band or Swing Music.

It was the instrumental version by Goodman’s Orchestra that was the #1 hit song. Granted the arrangement and end product was more that just a step above the original.

Prima was also a fine New Orleans style trumpet player as demonstrated in the clip below.

Louis had a certain comedic and kitschy stage presence, it was always his thing. He had a lot of fun on stage. When Keely Smith added her beautiful voice, dead pan acting, often with the mimicry of Louis, it really was ‘magic’. Make no mistake behind the act is a depth of talent. My favorite Prima music comes from the ten years (1950-1960) they sang together. Keely started as a back-up singer and would be married to Prima from 1953 to 1961. Their version of “Old Black Magic” won them the award for Best Performance by a Vocal Group or Chorus at the very first Grammy Awards in 1959.

If you knew nothing of Louis Prima you most likely recognize this next clip.

No monkeying around, Louis Prima was one cool dude.

“Just a Gigolo (I Ain’t Got Nobody)” was first performed by Louis Prima and His Orchestra and released in 1945. It is a medley based on the original German song “Schöner Gigolo, armer Gigolo” from 1929 and “I Ain’t Got Nobody” which was first released in 1916.

You may recall the cover by David Lee Roth in 1985.

Check out Music Mondays from Lines by Leon.