Sebastian Bach
Canadian-American singer
Louis Prima was a versatile American musician who embraced various genres, including New Orleans jazz, swing, jump blues, early R&B, and Italian folk music. He is also known for voicing the character of King Louie in the Disney film ‘The Jungle Book’.
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About the Louis Prima
Louis Leo Primawas an American trumpeter, singer, entertainer, and bandleader. While rooted in New Orleans jazz, swing music, and jump blues, Prima touched on various genres throughout his career: he formed a seven-piece New Orleans-style jazz band in the late 1920s, fronted a swing combo in the 1930s and a big band group in the 1940s, helped to popularize jump blues in the late 1940s and early to mid 1950s, and performed frequently as a Vegas lounge act beginning in the 1950s.
From the 1940s through the 1960s, his music further encompassed early R&B and rock ‘n’ roll, boogie-woogie, and Italian folk music, such as the tarantella. Prima made prominent use of Italian music and language in his songs, blending elements of his Italian and Sicilian identity with jazz and swing music. At a time when ethnic musicians were discouraged from openly stressing their ethnicity, Prima’s conspicuous embrace of his Sicilian ethnicity opened the doors for other Italian-American and ethnic American musicians to display their ethnic roots.
Prima is also known for providing the voice for the orangutan King Louie in the 1967 Disney film The Jungle Book.
Frequently Asked Questions
Louis Prima’s music spanned a variety of genres, including New Orleans jazz, swing, jump blues, early R&B, rock ‘n’ roll, boogie-woogie, and Italian folk music like the tarantella.
Louis Prima prominently incorporated elements of his Italian and Sicilian identity into his music, blending it with jazz and swing. He was known for his use of Italian music and language in his songs, which was unusual at a time when ethnic musicians were discouraged from openly expressing their ethnicity.
Louis Prima provided the voice for the character of King Louie, the orangutan, in the 1967 Disney film ‘The Jungle Book’.
Louis Prima was born on December 7, 1910, and passed away on August 24, 1978.
Over the course of his career, Louis Prima led a variety of musical groups, including a seven-piece New Orleans-style jazz band in the late 1920s, a swing combo in the 1930s, a big band group in the 1940s, and a Vegas lounge act beginning in the 1950s.
At a time when ethnic musicians were discouraged from openly expressing their ethnicity, Louis Prima’s conspicuous embrace of his Sicilian identity opened the doors for other Italian-American and ethnic American musicians to display their own ethnic roots in their music.
3 Quotes by Louis Prima
- 1.
My brother Leon started it all. He played the piano. In school they made me leader of the orchestra because I played the violin, but I followed Leon and the boys in his jazz band around.
Louis PrimaAmerican musician (1910-1978)
- 2.
I wasn’t making it with the violin because I was playing all of the ‘long hair’ stuff.
Louis PrimaAmerican musician (1910-1978)
- 3.
There’s nothing like walking out and watching the people get turned on. Nothing in the world could replace it.
Louis PrimaAmerican musician (1910-1978)