Lena Prima is an American jazz singer. She is the daughter of singer, trumpeter and recording star
Louis Prima
Louis Leo Prima (December 7, 1910 – August 24, 1978) was an American singer, songwriter, bandleader, and trumpeter. While rooted in New Orleans jazz, swing music, and jump blues, Prima touched on various genres throughout his career: he forme ...
and his fifth wife,
Gia Maione
Gia Maione Prima (May 20, 1941 – September 23, 2013) was an American singer and wife of singer Louis Prima.
Biography
Born in the Roebling section of Florence Township, New Jersey, Maione lived in Bordentown before moving with her family to ...
.
Early life
Born in Las Vegas, her childhood was divided between that city and the New Orleans/Covington area of Louisiana. She often traveled with her father on his road trips and frequently performed with him on stage.
[Lena Prima official bio:](_blank)
' Basin Street Records website. Retrieved Jan. 29, 2019. During this time, Lena's mother, a classically trained singer and the stage partner of her husband, Louis, taught Lena to play drums, which she continues to play on stage today. Lena developed a love for performing during these early years of her life.
Lena's father, Louis, often told her stories about his life in show business. He also taught her about the culture and traditions in his native New Orleans.
[Milano, Brett (Jan. 30, 2019): ]
"Lena Prima: Coming To Terms With Her Musical Bloodline.
' Offbeat. When Lena was 11, her father underwent surgery for a benign brain tumor. He subsequently fell into a coma from which he never awakened. He died in 1978 when Lena was 14. Remembering her father, Lena said, “He was like a magical creature, bigger than life, with so much charisma.
[Wirt, John (Oct. 21, 2016)]
The New Orleans Advocate. He always had a twinkle in his eye, smiling, laughing and joyful.” Lena enrolled in college at 18, but soon dropped out to be a professional entertainer, like her father.
[
]
Career
Lena's singing career began with rock bands, despite her mother's objection to her pursuing a music career.[ While working a series of day jobs, Lena sang with many bands, sometimes sneaking in the back door because she was underage. Lena formed a band, Rough Angel, which recorded an album with producer ]Geoff Workman
Geoff Workman (21 September 1947 – 21 January 2010) was an English record producer and engineer, best known for producing and engineering albums for The Cars, Queen, Journey, Foreigner, Drivin N Cryin, Toto, Mötley Crüe, Private Eye and Tw ...
(The Cars
The Cars were an American rock band formed in Boston in 1976. Emerging from the new wave scene in the late 1970s, they consisted of Ric Ocasek ( rhythm guitar), Benjamin Orr (bass guitar), Elliot Easton (lead guitar), Greg Hawkes (keyboards), ...
, Queen
Queen or QUEEN may refer to:
Monarchy
* Queen regnant, a female monarch of a Kingdom
** List of queens regnant
* Queen consort, the wife of a reigning king
* Queen dowager, the widow of a king
* Queen mother, a queen dowager who is the mother ...
, Journey
Journey or journeying may refer to:
* Travel, the movement of people between distant geographical locations
** Day's journey, a measurement of distance
** Road trip, a long-distance journey on the road
Animals
* Journey (horse), a thoroughbred ra ...
, Mötley Crüe
Mötley Crüe is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles in 1981. The group was founded by bassist Nikki Sixx, drummer Tommy Lee, lead guitarist Mick Mars and lead singer Vince Neil. Mötley Crüe has sold over 100 million albums ...
). The group eventually stalled and, when grunge took over the rock scene, Lena left rock music and found she could earn a living singing with lounge and cover bands.[Taylor, F. Andrew (Aug. 11, 2016)]
"Louis Prima’s old-school Las Vegas spirit lives on in daughter’s performances."
Review Journal.
While performing with Spiral Starecase on a cruise, Lena, at the urging of some musician friends, put a tribute show together to honor her father. The tribute evolved and grew into the show she performs today.
In 2005, Hurricane Katrina and the damage it made to her father's hometown made an impact on Lena. She brought her band to New Orleans to perform a benefit concert hurricane and flood relief. The visit, coupled with Lena's appearance at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in 2010, inspired her to move with her husband to New Orleans in 2011. She continues to call the Crescent City home.
In 2018, Lena concluded a seven-year residency at the Hotel Monteleone in the French Quarter.[ In New Orleans, she has performed at the ]New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (commonly called Jazz Fest or Jazzfest) is an annual celebration of local music and culture held at the Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans, Louisiana. Jazz Fest attracts thousands of visitors to New ...
, and French Quarter Festival
French Quarter Festival is a free, annual music festival held in early April, located in the historic French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana. Founded in 1983 with the first festival held in 1984, the festival features primarily New Orleans m ...
.[
]
Recording
Lena has recorded six albums. Her recordings include 2010's ''Since the Storm,'' a collection of swing, jazz, ballads and originals. ''Pennies From Heaven'' (2012) is a live album recorded at the Gold Coast Showroom in Las Vegas. ''Starting Something,'' released in 2015, is an autobiographical project recorded after Lena's move to New Orleans. It features local musicians and singers and many original songs.
In 2018, Lena signed with Basin Street Records
Basin Street Records is a Grammy Award-winning independent record label based in New Orleans, Louisiana, that specializes in jazz, funk, and rhythm and blues ( R&B).
Basin Street Records was founded in 1997 by Mark Samuels and Tom Thompson. T ...
. In early 2019, the label released ''Prima la Famiglia'', which appeared on the ''Billboard
A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...
'' Jazz Albums chart.
Discography
#''Reminiscing'' 2001
#''Since the Storm'' 2010 (11th Hour Records)
#''Pennies From Heaven'' 2012
#''Starting Something 2014'' (Aftergroove)
#''Christmastime is Here'' 2014
#''Live at the Dew Drop Jazz and Social Hall'' 2016
#''Prima La Famiglia'' 2019 (Basin Street Records
Basin Street Records is a Grammy Award-winning independent record label based in New Orleans, Louisiana, that specializes in jazz, funk, and rhythm and blues ( R&B).
Basin Street Records was founded in 1997 by Mark Samuels and Tom Thompson. T ...
)
References
External links
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Prima, Lena
1963 births
American jazz singers
Living people