[Dixielandjazz] Louis Prima

[Don Ingle]

Bob Romans wrote:
> In all of these clips of Prima and Keely, she looks like she's bored as 
> hell! He was probably not too easy to get along with...sure was talented 
> though!
> Warmest regards,
> Bob Romans,
>   
> Bob: That "bored look" was part of Keely's on stage act. She used this aloof, "I'm way out of your crude style company" bit and it worked wonderfully well. Had the occasion to catch them numerous times in Vegas when I worked there in the '50's-early 60's. 
>   
They had a timing that was marvelous, their humor sold well with 
audiences, and they also played a marvelously romping semi-R&B style 
with some hints of Prima's N.O. roots. Sam Buttera played the best "honk 
and duck" tenor sax around in those days, but could play some pretty 
fills on Keeley's quiet and gentle tunes. She had a great voice for 
ballads and torch tunes. But her deadpan appearance was her schtick and 
she worked it well.
Don Ingle