Exhibition on Italian American Jazzman Louis Prima Leads Audiences to 'Rediscover' Musical Icon

Since inaugurating a new original temporary exhibition about Grammy Award-winning musician Louis Prima 10 months ago, the Italian American Museum of Los Angeles (IAMLA) has received a constant stream of visitors, including many experiencing the museum for the first time.

What’s most striking about the museum-goers, as one observes after spending a Sunday afternoon at the IAMLA, is their sheer diversity: students, seniors, veterans, families, and tourists were among those enjoying the exhibition, Louis Prima: Rediscovering a Musical Icon.

*A view of gallery II at the IAMLA Louis Prima opening.*

Interest in the exhibition among the Italian American community has been strong. A delegation representing more than two dozen Italian American organizations, spearheaded by the Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations (COPOMIAO), were among the first to visit.

In the spring, Lena Prima, youngest daughter of Louis Prima, commanded a sold-out crowd for her performance at the IAMLA, which featured many of her father’s hits. Representatives from the region of Sicily, who were visiting Los Angeles for the occasion of the Italian ship Amerigo Vespucci’s world tour, would also make a pilgrimage to the IAMLA and learn about Prima, whose family was from Salaparuta and Ustica.

*Members of COPOMIAO visit IAMLA for a special tour of the Prima exhibition with the museum’s director, Marianna Gatto.*

*Lena Prima with her New Orleans All Star Band perform at the IAMLA.*

In June, the IAMLA hosted Representative Tom Suozzi, Congressman for New York’s 3rd Congressional District, for a tour. Suozzi, whose career in public service spans three decades, is the son of an Italian immigrant and a vocal supporter of Italian American issues.

“Italian American history is American history,” says Suozzi. “The Italian American Museum of Los Angeles gives us a deeper understanding of the Italian American part of the American mosaic. Italian Americans have helped shape our nation, and this museum is a wonderful celebration of our contribution.”

*Congressman Tom Suozzi with IAMLA Executive Director and Cofounder Marianna Gatto.*

Exhibitions and public programming are among the tools that the IAMLA utilizes to engage the public, explains director Marianna Gatto. At a recent public program exploring Prima and other Italian Americans in jazz that featured scholars Bruce Raeburn and Will Friedwald, over 90 percent of attendees were new to the IAMLA. Free programs for youth and families, including an interactive play about Prima’s life for children, introduced the IAMLA to even larger audiences.

“Many of our student visitors have never been to a museum or attended a live performance before,” says Gatto. “It is always a bit sobering when we hear this. Whether they are students or lifelong learners, these visitors demonstrate the role of museums—to educate, inspire, and connect people, to promote discourse and equity, to preserve heritage, showcase cultural narratives, and foster a sense of shared humanity.”

*Children and their families attend a free interactive play at the IAMLA.*

Louis Prima: Rediscovering a Musical Icon was made possible by a grant from the Gia Maione Prima Foundation with additional support from the Italian Sons and Daughters of America, among others.

To learn more about the Italian American Museum of Los Angeles please visit www.iamla.org.