The Italian American Social Club at Palm Coast - IASC

LOUIS PRIMA
Louis Prima was born December 7, 1910, in New Orleans to Anthony Prima and Angelina Caravella. Angelina
emigrated as a child from Ustica, Sicily. Anthony’s father, Leo Di Prima, emigrated from Salaputra, Sicily. Louis had an
older brother and two younger sisters. The family lived in an area of New Orleans that was populated by other
immigrant groups and African Americans. Consequently, the area provided musically enriching experiences during his
formative years. Hearing the jazz music streaming from the local African American clubs stimulated his interest in jazz.
The members of his family were musicians and his parents strongly supported their children’s musical education. Each
child played an instrument. Louis’ was the violin. As a child he played at the church; however his main attraction was
to jazz. The barriers of segregation in the mixed neighborhood were not strictly enforced, and Black artists played in
many Italian clubs. And Louis, as others in the neighborhood, was humanistic in his approach to life. He harbored no
sense of discrimination, such that in recognition of his views, later in life Eleanor Roosevelt, a staunch supporter of
eliminating the country of segregation, applauded him for his views and invited him to the White House for FDR’s
birthday party. It is believed his views on racial equality enhanced his success. He played in White and Black
establishments and went on to become an exceptional entertainer. In his first gig in New York City, when he arrived the
owner of the club where he was supposed to play, thought him to be Negro and would not honor the deal, because of
this he was unemployed for six months.
Louis’ personal life was not as successful as his professional life. He married four times. His first wife was Louise
Polizzi by whom he had a daughter. His second was Alma Ross, an actress, and the third Tracelene Barrett, his
secretary, with whom he had a baby girl. His last wife was Keely Smith and they divorced. They produced two children,
Toni, 1955, and Louanne, 1957. He never married again. Some of his famous songs are Angelina, in tribute to his
mother, Old Black Magic, I Ain’t Got Noboby, Just a Gigolo, Please no Squeeza da Banana, Bacci Galupe Made Love on the
Stoop, Felecia no Capricia, Bell Bottom Trousers,… He was a nationally renowned entertainer and loved his audience.
He died on August 24, 1978, from a brain hemorrhage. He lies in a tomb in Metaire Cemetery, in New Orleans. On his
gray marble crypt sits a statue of Gabriel with his horn and on the door is the inscription, “When the end comes, I
know, they’ll all say, ‘just a gigolo’ as life goes on without me. Lovingly your little family…”
Laurence Amuso, Member Heritage Committee
Congratulations to Joan Kazmirsky,
#100, our Pot of Gold Winner for
February.
She is the 2nd winner in POG 38.
We are currently collecting for POG 39,
April, May and June - please have your
$30.00 in before March 15th.
4
February’s Winner
Pot of Gold #38
Get Well Card:
Sympathy Card:
We would like to extend a warm welcome
to our newest members :
Malcolm & Rosetta Clevenstine,
12 N. Old Oak Dr., Palm Coast, FL 32137
Dominick Matra
1 Water Oak Cir., Ormond Beach, FL 32174
Emanuale & Angela Foto
915 Woodstream Ormond Beach, FL 32174
Julia Parrish
87 San Juan Dr., Palm Coast, FL 32137
HEALTH & WELFARE – March 2013
Claudia Miller recovering from surgery.
Louis Ciasulli recovering from open-heart surgery.
Marie Mercaldo on the death of her aunt.
Andrew Tuohy on the death of his brother.
Patricia Gronczewski on the death of her brother.
Mrs. Germano on the death of her mother
Rosemary Litwak.
Please notify Pat Dino at 446-4757 of any illness or demise in a
member’s family so that the Club may express its concern.