The ASCAP Foundation Louis Prima Award

Gia Prima, wife of Louis, and her friends and long-time Counsel at Riker Danzig Scherer Hyland & Perretti LLP established The ASCAP Foundation Louis Prima Award to be presented to a talented vocalist or musician attending the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts. One of the founding fathers of the Las Vegas entertainment scene,his group The Witnesses was a precursor to the Rock & Roll sound of the 50's. Many of the popular favorites Louis recorded included his own compositions such as "Jump, Jive, An' Wail," "Banana Split For My Baby," and "Oh, Marie." Louis was awarded the first Grammy award in the Vocal Group category for his rendition of "That Old Black Magic" in 1958. Artists as diverse as David Lee Roth and Brian Setzer brought Prima's music to the top of the charts in the 80's and 90's and his music was at the center of ad campaigns through the 2000's. Louis Prima passed away on August 24, 1978.

Past Recipients: