Louis Prima (b. New Orleans, LA, December 7, 1911; d. August 24, 1978) began his recording career as a singer and trumpet player in 1933. With the recent popularization of his song "Jump, Jive, An' Wail," his music has found a new audience twenty years after his death. Along with his wife, vocalist Keely Smith, Prima built his raucous stage act into one of the hottest live shows in Las Vegas and Lake Tahoe during the 1950s. Prima was then at the height of his popularity as a lounge entertainer and was hugely popular for his Neapolitan-flavored humor, as well as his robust vocals and trumpet virtuosity.
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