COLLECTIVE MADNESS


“Soft despotism is a term coined by Alexis de Tocqueville describing the state into which a country overrun by "a network of small complicated rules" might degrade. Soft despotism is different from despotism (also called 'hard despotism') in the sense that it is not obvious to the people."

Saturday, November 05, 2011

The Great Jazz Singers Louis Prima and Keely Smith



Proud of his Italian heritage — which he incorporated into a number of his songs — Louis Prima was a veteran of the jazz scene who struck gold in the 1950s by mixing his Louis Armstrong influences with swinging jazz, throbbing jump blues, early rhythm ‘n’ blues and Sicilian zaniness.

By itself, his music was unforgettable; but when combined with his hilariously brash sense of showmanship, Prima became unstoppable. Backed by saxophonist Sam Butera’s band and a succession of straight-faced female foils (the finest being the angelic Keely Smith, who went on to achieve major success as a solo artist), Prima put on a high-energy show that registered well with crowds everywhere.

Prima also wrote such standards as “Sing Sing Sing,” and “A Sunday Kind of Love.” His bawdy act excited the sex-starved masses of the Eisenhower era, earned respect from jazz hipsters and was appreciated by greasy-haired teens growing up on rock ‘n’ roll.

The “Queen of Las Vegas” swing, Keely Smith, is one of the last living legends of the great Rat Pack era of the 1950s and ‘60s. For nearly half a century, the Cherokee-Irish singer has thrilled audiences around the world, entertaining music fans with unequaled charm. Keely is perhaps best known for her partnership with Louis Prima, with whom she helped turn Las Vegas into an entertainment mecca for the rich and the famous. On February 10, 2008, Smith performed "That Old Black Magic" with Kid Rock at the 50th Grammy Awards.

14 comments:

  1. Pure entertainment - Sammy Davis Jr the way you've probably never seen him Boogie Woogie

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  2. The. Rat. Pack. + 1 Sammy Davis Jr, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, and Johnny Carson? The Birth of the Blues

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  3. You can’t read the 23-page grand jury report and come to any other conclusion; Penn State football and its pristine reputation apparently superseded the alleged sexual assault of a young boy — perhaps as many as eight young boys — over 15 years by Sandusky.

    Joe Pa knew, if the charges are true.

    They all knew.

    And they never told police.

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  4. All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.

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  5. Yonder are the Hessians. They were bought for seven pounds and tenpence a man. Are you worth more? Prove it. Tonight the American flag floats from yonder hill or Molly Stark sleeps a widow!

    John Stark at the Battle of Bennington in 1777

    40 of the Most Bad-Assed, Alpha Male Quotes of All Time

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  6. Keely Smith - Youtube Mix


    The gal really Could sing.

    I guess that "Irish-Cherokee" mix works pretty good.

    In some cases. :)

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