Louis Prima's 100th!

[Guitar55]

Today, Dec. 7th would have been Louis Prima's 100th birthday. Here's to one of the great entertainers of the last century! Thanks for all the jumping, jiving, wailing swinging and rocking!

[cvansickle]

[musicofanatic5]

Oh, that guy that covered that Brian Seltzer song?

[markbosko]

Some of his best recordings were with Keely Smith. They sounded great together.

[straycat23]

Happy 100th to the King of Cool. Very underrated.

[dets1]

there was a great special on public tv the other night. louie was a blast.

[Sweetfinger]

Every once in a while I come across one of those people who is obsessed with old "Rat Pack" era Las Vegas, and for whom Sinatra is the greatest singer to ever walk the earth. I'm not usually a fun conversation for them because it's gonna be all about Prima! Louie had more soul in a hangnail than Sinatra had in his whole body!

[alberob]

One of my all time favorites. It is impossible for me to listen to Louie Prima and not feel better even if I'm in a funk.

[Guitar55]

Originally Posted by alberob

One of my all time favorites. It is impossible for me to listen to Louie Prima and not feel better even if I'm in a funk.

+1000!!

[Neer]

I'm a very big Loius Prima fan and, as much as love his stuff with Keeley, I really like his earlier recordings best (30s and early 40s). If you ever get a chance to pick up some of the early stuff on CD, do it! Louis was heavily into Louis Armstrong at the time. He came to NYC for his first recordings where they put together a crack band for him featuring George Van Eps on guitar. It is some great playing on those records, with very short chord solos that are just killer.

This is a great CD: http://www.amazon.com/1934-35-1-Loui.../dp/B000001X1G

[Guitar55]

That looks great. Thanks!

[sinner]

Time to break out some of my old Louis Prima vinyl and thank the guy proper like. I still have "The Wildest Show at Tahoe" with Keely Smith, Sam Butera on tenor sax, James Little Red Blount on trombone, Tony Liuzza on bass, Willie McCumber piano, Bobby Morris, drums; "Louis Prima: The Wildest!" with the same line up--good stuff!

[GA20T]

Originally Posted by Sweetfinger

Every once in a while I come across one of those people who is obsessed with old "Rat Pack" era Las Vegas, and for whom Sinatra is the greatest singer to ever walk the earth. I'm not usually a fun conversation for them because it's gonna be all about Prima! Louie had more soul in a hangnail than Sinatra had in his whole body!

x 100

[stratus]

Man, would I have loved to be at those shows in those days! Great stuff there, thanks.