Lena Prima, Jazz Singer, Recording Artist, & Daughter of Jazz Legend Louis Prima

Please welcome to our show one of the most dynamic jazz performers of our time,
Lena Prima, daughter of jazz great Louis Prima, who has clearly carved out a name for
herself in New Orleans and around the globe for her electrifying stage performances
and albums.

I grew up with Louis Prima’s music playing in our Italian household. My parents, aunts,
and uncles would dance to his music late into the evening on many weekends. So I
was thrilled to meet Lena at the Italian American Museum in LA where she performed
a few months ago, celebrating the Louis Prima exhibit currently on display there.
Lena is a one-of-a-kind of jazz singer and performer, much like her dad. Her energy is
the kind that comes around once in a generation, and watching her perform with her
band, I can only imagine what it was like for her on stage with her dad when she was a
kid. Sadly, Louis Prima died when Lena was 11, complications from a benign brain
tumor. But everything about him in those eleven years made a permanent impression
on Lena to this day.

Lena grew up in Vegas but frequented New Orleans where her dad grew up. And her
mom, Gia Malone, was also a singer and performer. Lena started her career in rock,
but got the calling to perform jazz, and eventually plant roots in New Orleans, where
she performs to this day.

There’s a lot to talk about with Lena. Please join our conversation on all video and
audio platforms of my #LittleItalyPodcast, #LittleItalyOfLAPodcast, &
#DeborahKobyltLIVE. I’m your host, #DeborahZaraKobylt, and I thank you for being
here. Please invite your friends, too! We’re so excited to have Lena Prima joining us󰏢