| Guestbook statistic: 878 entries on 88 pages. Page viewing: 5 |
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Marcello
Date: 06.11.2009Time: 20:25:50 |
It really saddens me to hear that Louis is being portrayed in such a bad manner. In general, it really drives me crazy when people go out and do or say something without getting their facts straight. And this, I say it's just plain wrong. How these jerks could have gotten away with this musical for over a year is beyond me. |
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Gia Maione Prima
Date: 06.11.2009 Time: 10:33:08 |
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! I am so tired of the lies and inaccurate information that I see and read almost daily about my husband Louis Prima, that I must finally speak out. There are inaccurate Prima biographies all over the Internet. There is one book on Louis, riddled with untruths and false, historically incorrect material. The latest absolute shocker is the Louis and Keely Live At The Sahara musical that has been playing in the Los Angeles area for over a year, written by and starring Vanessa Claire Smith and Jake Broder. I recently received a CD soundtrack of the Louis & Keely Live at the Sahara show, and was stunned and mortified by what I heard. Have these people ever heard or listened to the real Louis Prima and Keely Smith? Have they completely forgotten how the actual Louis Prima and Keely Smith sounded. The people portraying the lead roles are unskilled musically, vocally and as actors. Their voices are shrill with vibratos that sound like they have SHEEP stuck in their throats, and I have heard far better bands at weddings. |
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Gia Maione Prima
Date: 06.11.2009 Time: 10:31:04 |
...Continued... The storyline of their show is almost 100% falsehoods (lies), historically inaccurate and a totally untrue, disrespectful, hatchet job of Louis Prima, his talent and character. I'll make just a few points: 1) They open their show with Louis, in a coma, claiming he’s been there for two years. He was actually in a coma for THREE years. The comatose Louis character happily speaks to the audience about his favorite time of the day...his sponge bath! How disrespectful to any human being that has been in a coma for 3 years, to make dirty jokes about a sponge bath, while that person and his family suffered agonizing pain every day! 2) Their version of Louis says "WE'RE WOPS AND WE DON'T HIDE IT". To any proud Italian, using that disparaging word, is sacrilegious !! I know, because I am also Italian! LOUIS WOULD NEVER USE THAT WORD!!! He loved and respected his heritage and all of his Italian fans loved and adored him for it. 3) Louis Prima was an intelligent,well spoken, Southern gentleman.They portray him as a crude, uneducated, vulgar, pervert. They could not properly reproduce his music, and they couldn't even reproduce his beautiful, New Orleans accent. 4) They have portrayed Louis as a 38 year old man meeting the alleged 16 year old, Keely Smith during a performance. Their Louis character oooh's and ahh's over this child like a perverted predator. LET ME MAKE THIS PERFECTLY CLEAR: KEELY SMITH WAS NOT 16 YEARS OF AGE WHEN SHE MET LOUIS PRIMA!!!! SHE WAS IN HER 20's AND MARRIED TO A MAN NAMED MATTHEW GAMBARDELLA. SHE DID NOT MEET LOUIS PRIMA ON THE BEACH WHILE HE WAS PERFORMING AT THE SURF CLUB IN VIRGINIA BEACH, VIRGINIA. SHE FIRST MET HIS DRUMMER, JIMMY VINCENT.SHE LEFT HER HUSBAND AND TRAVELED WITH JIMMY AND THE BAND TO NEW YORK. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, SHE BECAME ENGAGED TO JIMMY VINCENT,WHILE SETTING HER SIGHTS ON LOUIS, WHO WAS AT THE TIME MARRIED TO A BEAUTIFUL,YOUNG,PREGNANT WIFE TRACELENE BARRETT PRIMA. 5) Lastly, their version of Louis dies alone and a failure after Keely. HE WAS NOT ALONE!!! HE HAD ME, HIS LOVING WIFE, WHO HAD STOOD BY HIS SIDE FOR 16 YEARS, HIS BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER LENA, AND HIS ADORING, ONLY SON, LOUIS,JR. HE ALSO HAD HIS TWO ADULT DAUGHTERS FROM TWO PREVIOUS MARRIAGES, TRACY AND JOYCE,BY HIS SIDE UNTIL THE END.HIS ONLY CHILDREN THAT DID NOT VISIT DURING HIS FINAL THREE YEARS, WERE KEELY'S TWO DAUGHTERS, TONI AND LUANNE. KEELY DID NOT VISIT WHILE HE WAS IN THE COMA IN NEW ORLEANS UNTIL ONE MONTH BEFORE HE DIED. There was never a time during those three years that visitors were restricted from seeing Louis. |
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Gia Maione Prima
Date: 06.11.2009 Time: 10:27:04 |
Continued... …AS FOR LOUIS' CAREER AFTER KEELY!! His mainstay and true ACE IN THE HOLE, SAM BUTERA was still with him, so were the WITNESSES and eventually, myself. His shows and music were as great as they had always been. He continued to play to packed, standing room only crowds. He worked the finest places America had to offer, THE SAHARA, THE SANDS, HARRAH's RENO AND TAHOE, THE COPACABANA, BASIN ST. EAST, BEN MAKSIK's TOWN AND COUNTRY(the largest nightclub in America, 3000 seats) etc. He appeared on every top TV show of the 60's and 70's including ED SULLIVAN, JOHNNY CARSON, DEAN MARTIN,BOB HOPE, DANNY THOMAS, STEVE LAWRENCE, DAVID FROST, MIKE DOUGLAS, MERV GRIFFIN,JOEY BISHOP, ETC. In 1967, he starred in Walt Disney's motion picture, THE JUNGLE BOOK and in 1975 shortly before the surgery induced coma, had just completed four songs and much of the dialogue, to star in the upcoming Disney film, THE RESCUERS. So yes, his life after Keely was great. His career was moving full speed ahead and in some new directions. He was not REJECTED AND ALONE AS DEPICTED IN THIS MUSICAL- not by those who truly loved him and certainly NEVER by his fans. MAKE NO MISTAKE, Keely was a 7 year part of his 50 YEAR career, but he was the star for many years before her and for many years after her. There is much, much more that I can say. GIVE TRUTH,CREDIT,AND RESPECT WHERE IT IS DUE…TRUTH MATTERS!!! ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! Sincerely, Gia Maione Prima (Mrs. Louis Prima) |
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Carla Tripi
Date: 19.10.2009 Time: 12:55:57 |
Hello Louis, I just saw 2 performances on Sunday at the M resort and let me tell you...You are THE BEST!! I like many others grew up on your family music and many years ago we were at Calamity Janes to see your then band perform called Problem Child and I have a photo I was going to give to you, but I didn't have the opportunity at the show. I really enjoyed your shows along with my family. We never jumped out of our seats so many times singing along with you and just having a blast. You did good..real good, we are very PROUD of YOU and we know your parents are too!! My father wants to adopt you and your kids:) ciao Bella!!! Viva Louie Prima!!! |
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CARLO CARENZI
Date: 11.10.2009 Time: 05:11:04 |
hallo,i'm an italian fan of the great LOUIS PRIMA.i love the music and a big man who incanted all the world with also a funny entertainment.my dream is return at the swing era and listen this BIG BIG MAN.BEST REGARD. sorry for my english.LOUIS PRIMA live forever...... |
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Thomas
Date: 10.10.2009 Time: 12:28:42 |
fantastic too see a website dedicated to one of the greatest showmen and musicians that EVER lived...I have been a lifelong fan of Louis Prima, but never actually seen any film or video of his performances...UNTIL youtube..I own some 78 RPM records, and many albums for years...I must say...I was totally blown away when I finally did see him perform...its no wonder so many performers of his day and later, copied some of his style...he was a consumate performer, class, style, and great innovation..and his band was first rate.. They simply will never come like him again..He was true americana..and his music and performances are timeless... |
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David Pache
Date: 08.10.2009 Time: 19:54:17 |
What a voice and what an entertainer. His live shows reflected his energy and enthusiasm for his music and life, a natural celebrity thats hard to find these days. Long live Louis Prima. |
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cecilia
Date: 19.09.2009 Time: 13:18:59 |
i really enjoyed this site. my grandmother used to sing me the song 'Cecilia' every now and again. she ussed to say she heard the music playing and she would sing it. i never knew if the song really existed or if it was part of her getting old. and then i heard the song here. thanks for making my memory of her that much more special. Cecilia |
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Ron Cannatella
Date: 15.09.2009 Time: 08:19:46 |
We are pleased to announce the release of the classic 1970 Louis Prima album Blast Off…available again for the first time in 39 years! Blast Off features phenomenal live Prima performances and arrangements of great contemporary standards. The album is NOW available exclusively for download at all of the major sites including iTunes, Amazon, Napster, and many more. BLAST OFF! Louis Prima with Sam Butera & The Witnesses Release Date: September 15, 2009 Label: Prima (c) 2009 Prima Music L.L.C. 1)Fly Me To The Moon 2)Ob La Di Ob La Da 3)Spinning Wheel 4)Little Green Apples 5)Delilah 6)That’s Life 7)For Once In My Life 8)Hava Nagila 9)Mrs. Robinson 10)Mohair Sam 11)MacArthur Park 12)Cabaret |