Louis Prima

About

Jazz singer, actor, trumpeter, and songwriter who performed with Keely Smith. He got his star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame in 2010.

Before Fame

He had a racially tolerant childhood growing up with the black community in New Orleans. He dropped out of high school and performed with groups like the Ellis Stratako Orchestra.

Trivia

He embraced rock 'n' roll, unlike a lot of other classic crooners like Frank Sinatra.

Family Life

He married five times: first to Louise Polizzi in 1929, then to Alma Ross in 1935, then to Tracelene Barrett in 1948, then to Keely Smith in 1953, and finally to Gia Maione in 1962.

Associated With

Listening to Louis Armstrong encouraged him to explore the jazz field.