[Dixielandjazz] Louis Prima - Of possible interest

[dwlit at cpcug.org]

Fortunately, the Prima legacy was carried on by Prima's Saxophonist Sam
Butera, who toured around the USA until he retired a couple of years ago.
Jasmine record label has reissued loads of Prima, and released several
Butera records.

One of our local guys who plays fine tuba as well as the basses spent ca.
7 years on the road with Sam before Sam retired. Jay Miles.

--Sheik
>
> Our guitarist, Sonny Troy spent a few years working with Prima in Las
> Vegas. And when I go through my band member introduction routine, I
> always mention that, among other things, asking the audience for a
> show of hands as to who has seen Prima perform there or in other venues.
>
> Sadly, that audience is shrinking like the regular OKOM audience who
> have see folks like Armstrong or Bechet et al. But they always light
> up about Prima, nod in agreement about his showmanship and come up to
> talk with Sonny on break, or after our program, to share some Prima
> stories.
>
> When Sonny left the band and returned to Philadelphia, every time
> Prima would come East, he'd stop by at a gig to say hello and laugh
> about the good old days. He would also get pretty raunchy and, in a
> loud voice, say to Sonny something like: "Hey Sonny, can you get
> me . . . by one of these pretty women here?"
>
> He was a fine New Orleans Jazz trumpeter who learned the secret of
> making money in swinging a show band format. All the while being an
> earthy and very funny guy constantly playing tricks on his band mates.
>
> Best of all, while many oldsters may have ignored, or forgotten about
> him, today's swing dance kids know damn well who he was and they dance
> to his music.
>
> Cheers,
> Steve Barbone
> www.myspace.com/barbonestreetjazzband
>
>
>
>
>
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