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You might know Louis Prima as the voice of King Louie in Disney’s The Jungle Book or maybe you’ve heard David Lee Roth’s 80s version of his hit song Just a Gigolo, but the Gramy-winning King of Swing was so much more. An exhibit on the exuberant singer, Louis Prima: Rediscovering a Musical Icon, lights up Downtown’s Italian American Museum until Oc...

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IAMLA, the Italian Museum of Los Angeles, recently unveiled their 2024 exhibit honoring the life and legacy of musical artist Louis Prima. Louis Prima (1910 -1978) was a skilled jazzman, prolific songwriter, and extraordinary performer. Prima’s music is omnipresent, from film and television to viral TikTok videos, Disney classic tunes(The Jungle Bo...

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Fri. Mar 22, 2024 at 6:00pm PDT. Garibaldina MB Society, 4533 North Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA. Swing into Spring with an unforgettable live concert featuring the Luke Carlson Quintet, enchanting the evening with Louis Prima's greatest hits. Join us at 6 pm for delightful cocktails and a lively swing dance lesson at 7 pm to get you into the r...

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Jazzman, songwriter, entertainer, pop culture icon, symbol of Italian American pride. Louis Prima was one of the most popular artists of his generation, whose music influenced artists ranging from Elvis Presley and Stevie Wonder to David Lee Roth, Kanye West, Los Lobos, and Michael Bublè, yet he is also among the most forgottenstars of American pop...

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This month, the Italian American Museum of Los Angeles closed the curtain on their successful Pinocchio exhibit and debuted their newest exhibit Louis Prima: Rediscovering a Musical Icon set to run through October 2024. The exhibition is produced by the IAMLA in collaboration with the Gia Maione Prima Foundation that explores the life and legacy of...

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Louis Prima: Rediscovering a Musical Icon is a new exhibition produced by the IAMLA in collaboration with the Gia Maione Prima Foundation that explores the life and legacy of Louis Prima (1910 -1978), a skilled jazzman, prolific songwriter, and extraordinary performer. Prima’s music is omnipresent, from film and television to viral TikTok videos, D...

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The atmosphere was electric at Union Station. Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians (a.k.a. Lombardo’s brothers: Carmen, Victor, and Lambert—the band was a family affair) were touring to New Orleans for the first time, for a two-week engagement, and on May 3, 1934, a throng of welcomers assembled in anticipation of their train’s arrival. Despite bei...

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Italian-Americans have shaped and contributed to many aspects of American life. Our people historically have been a dominant force in the entertainment industry. From singers to musicians to actors, Italian-Americans have entertained and brought happiness to millions of people not only in America, but around the world. It is interesting to look at...

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Louis Prima was a very talented Italian American jazz singer, trumpet player and bandleader. Fans knew Prima as a polite and friendly celebrity. He always signed autographs or posed for pictures with a smile. He was born in New Orleans on December 7, 1910. His father, Anthony Prima, was the son of Sicilian immigrants from Salaparuta. His mother, An...

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Those who’ve seen Disney’s 1967 animated movie, The Jungle Book, will recognize Louis Prima’s husky, elastic voice, even if they’re not remotely familiar with his name or face. Then 57, Prima was cast as the zany orangutan, King Louie, who delivered one of the movie’s most memorable songs in the shape of “I Wanna Be Like You.” Given his long histor...

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