The Italian Museum of Los Angeles (IAMLA) held a concert this week featuring Lena Prima and her All-Star Band from New Orleans at their stage at the museum in downtown Los Angeles. Lena Prima, is the daughter of musical icon Louis Prima, and the concert was a collection of her father’s greatest hits, as well as originals by Lena and the band.
The concert event was a part of an ongoing musical series tied to the museum’s 2024 exhibit – Louis Prima: Rediscovering a Musical Icon- honoring the skilled jazzman and prolific songwriter. While Prima died in 1978, his music is still omnipresent today, being used in major feature films, television, and even in viral TikTok videos! One of his most well-known pieces became the theme song for the Disney classic The Jungle Book and his style has been sampled and embodied by contemporary artists today. Prima was a a Grammy Award-winning, multimillion-dollar hitmaker who helped pave the path for other performers, including Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, and Perry Como. Some of his most prolific hits include “Sing, Sing, Sing,” “Jump, Jive, an’ Wail,” and “Angelina.”
The concert event was co-sponsored by the Gia Maione Prima Foundation. Additional support was provided by the Italian Sons and Daughters of America, Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America, De Pietro Family, Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture, Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, El Pueblo Historical Monument, and the Josephine Mahoney Family.
Up next, the IAMLA will host a series of upcoming events including a “Build Your Own Tambourine!” class for youth and swing dancing lessons! For upcoming event details, visit https://www.iamla.org/past-events/. 644 N Main St, Los Angeles, CA 90012; 213.485.8432