[78-L] Details of Louis Prima DVD coming in May from Smore Entertainmement

[Steve Ramm]

Not released till May but here are details.
 
Steve
 

 
LOUIS PRIMA: IN PERSON
 
Making its debut in May from S’More Entertainment is LOUIS PRIMA: IN PERSON, a vibrant two hour special with full length performances from Louis Prima's storied career covering the years 1937 to 1971. The iconic musician on trumpet and vocals is joined by singers Keely Smith and Gia Maione.  Also featured are famed Jazz saxophonist Sam Butera and his back-up group, The Witnesses.  This special DVD is also featured on American Public Television around the country during pledge drives.
 
The multi-talented Prima was born in New Orleans' French Quarter and as a child, longed to play jazz, though in his early years studied the violin. His older brother Leon took up trumpet while Louis was still quite young, and he soon followed in his brother's footsteps. He went on to play in such clubs as "The Famous Door" in the 1930s, and by the time the 1940s rolled around Prima and his band were becoming well known. Like many other big bands, Prima always had a woman singer, his most famous being Keely Smith, with whom he recorded the classic "That Old Black Magic,” and for which he won a Grammy in 1959. She began with him when she was 16 years old, and he eventually married her. They were divorced in 1962, and that same year he married 20-year-old Gia Maione, who had also been a featured singer with his band.  In 1967 Prima voiced King Louie of the Apes in the animated Disney feature The Jungle Book.   Prima died in 1978, but his music continues as some of the best jazz and swing music ever recorded.  His music has been covered by such current artists as David Lee Roth, Brian Setzer, Los Lobos, Phish and Smash Mouth, to name just a few.
 
 
 
SYNOPSIS:
 
LOUIS PRIMA: IN PERSON is a retrospective of rare performances highlighting the many phases of Louis Prima’s remarkable 50+ year career. Culled from the basements and shelves of television and motion picture archives, Louis Prima: In Person presents the very best of those performances—not only the best, but the rarest.  Very few of the performances included in the DVD have ever been previously released and most of the performances featured have not been seen since their original TV broadcasts or during their original theatrical exhibition.
 
 BONUS MATERIAL:
DVD Bonus Features include rare footage of Prima’s performances and such well-known musical pieces as That Old Black Magic; Prima in the early television years performing Italian songs, including ‘Come on-a My House, Come-on a; his early career and the introduction of Keely Smith performing Can’t Help Lovin’ That Man Of Mine, among many, many other classic performances and song renditions such as Swing It! (1936); Sing, Sing, Sing featuring Jimmy Vincent (1943); When You’re Smiling/Sheik of Araby; Story ‘Bout the Dog (1965).  And a special feature Jump, Jive, An’ Wail, focusing on the Prima family musical heritage  that was passed down to  program host Louis Prima Jr. who, with his great band The Witnesses featuring Sarah Spiegel, performs his father’s classic Swing Era anthem. Jump, Jive, An’ Wail (2010). 
 
 COLOR - 120 Minutes
 UPC: 0-89353-71042-2 
Genre: MUSIC
Suggested Retail Price: $19.99 
PRE-BOOK DATE: April 22, 2011 STREET DATE:  May 17, 2011