On Louis Prima

Will Friedwald has a nice appreciation of the late Louis Prima in the Wall Street Journal. Prima, born a hundred years ago last month, had one of those great voices that, much like his fellow New Orleanian Louis Armstrong, contained within it so much joy that it is almost impossible to hear without cracking a smile. The next time you’re feeling a little down, listen to his version of “Pennies From Heaven”; if it doesn’t cheer you up even a little bit there is probably no hope.