The Louis Prima Stamp Petition

We would like to propose a US postage stamp honoring the legendary New Orleans born musician, bandleader, performer, composer, and entertainment icon Louis Prima. Mr. Prima should be honored for his many accomplishments as a composer and entertainer on what would have been his 100th birthday in the coming year of 2010.

Louis Prima was the architect and creator of the Swing Era with his landmark composition Sing, Sing, Sing. His legendary performances during that time defined the sound and style of the era. He was also responsible for launching the original Las Vegas cocktail lounge scene in the early years of that town. The excitement that Louis Prima created put Las Vegas on the map as an entertainment destination!

We approached the USPS a few years ago with letters in support of this honor for the late Louis Prima, signed Louis Prima Stamp Petitions from our campaign which began in 1995, and assorted press coverage of our efforts. Comedian Jerry Lewis, singer Tony Bennett, many noted entertainment journalists, and fans from coast to coast were all on the bandwagon to bring about this honor for the great Louis Prima. The campaign continues...

There were many aspects of his life that shaped Louis Prima into a truly remarkable man: his Italian American family life, love of horse racing, his expertise as a golfer and golf course designer, and most of all, his legendary career as an entertainer and composer that spanned an incredible five decades. His story is that of the Italian American experience and a rise to the heights of show business from New Orleans to New York's 52nd Street, classic Hollywood and the beginning and end of the heyday of Las Vegas. He was a Grammy winning recording artist, a master composer and a major star of stage, screen, radio and television and his musical legacy is cherished around the world!

The legacy of Louis Prima is alive and well and hotter than ever today. Prima Music, L.L.C. recently collaborated with BBC television on a new documentary and BBC radio on an extensive Louis Prima radio series. We are constantly placing Louis' music in an endless array of major motion pictures, television shows and ad campaigns every year.

Louis’ music has been featured recently in films and shows such as We Own The Night, Mission Impossible 3, Kicking and Screaming, Christmas with the Kranks, Elf, Anger Management, The Sopranos, Dancing with the Stars and in commercials for The Gap, Coca-Cola, Nike, Fiat, Talbot’s, General Motors, Commerce Bank of America, and the film trailer for Mr. Bean’s Holiday to name a few. His compositions and recordings will also be featured in several upcoming movies, TV shows and commercials as well.

Louis was honored on the Grammy Awards telecast in February, 2008 with a special tribute to the 50th anniversary of his receipt of the very first Grammy for his recording of That Old Black Magic.2007 marked the 40th anniversary of Walt Disney’s immortal collaboration with Louis Prima on the classic 1967 animated film The Jungle Book. The phenomenal sales of the newly released Jungle Book DVD set are a testament to the enduring popularity of the film and Louis Prima. Last year's Academy Awards telecast also featured Louis Prima's music. His recording of “I Wanna Be Like You” from The Jungle Book was played under a montage of famous movie primates starting with the original King Kong (1933) through Bedtime for Bonzo, Planet of the Apes and many more.

Louis Prima's classic recording of Buona Sera was featured during the closing ceremony of the 2006 Winter Olympics!!! It was an exciting moment and the perfect way to end the Winter Olympics with a BANG!!! His recording of Beep, Beep! was played recently to awaken the NASA Space Shuttle astronauts while on their last mission in outer space. The event was broadcast by all of the major news channels and reported in newspapers everywhere. Louis Prima’s music is played every day over the worldwide radio airwaves, on the Internet, in businesses and private homes further illustrating that HIS music IS the soundtrack to our lives! This year marks the 30th anniversary of the passing of Louis Prima. A US postage stamp bearing Louis Prima’s likeness issued in 2010 on the 100th anniversary of his birth will be the perfect way to celebrate his fascinating life and entertainment legacy.