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Minnie Mouse will be honored with the 2,627th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

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Hollywood Chamber to honor Minnie Mouse with Walk of Fame Star

Hollywood, Calif. – The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce that Minnie Mouse will be honored with the 2,627th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Monday, January 22, 2018 at 11:30 a.m. PST. The star will be dedicated in the category of Motion Pictures at 6834 Hollywood Boulevard in front of El Capitan Theatre.

“Minnie Mouse is a woman of the ages and her iconic status makes her a great addition to our Walk of Fame!” stated Ana Martinez, Producer of the Walk of Fame ceremonies. “Generations of fans of all ages have been looking forward to her seeing her bright new star.”

Helping Emcee Leron Gubler, President & CEO of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce to unveil the star will be Robert A. Iger, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company, and global pop icon and judge of ABC’s “American Idol,” Katy Perry.

The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce which administers the popular star ceremonies encourages people who are unable to attend and fans around the world to watch the event exclusively on www.walkoffame.com.

In 2018, Minnie Mouse will mark her incredible 90th Anniversary in entertainment, a rare accomplishment in the industry. It is the perfect time for Minnie to be recognized on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and join other Disney characters: Donald Duck, Tinker Bell, Winnie the Pooh, Snow White, Kermit the Frog, and, of course, Mickey Mouse, who received his star in 1978 in recognition of his 50th Anniversary at that time.

Minnie made her debut in the Disney classic, Steamboat Willie, and she instantly became America’s sweetheart. For decades, Minnie has delighted generations of fans with her fun-loving, independent personality and timeless style. Her ability to embody a sense of both old Hollywood elegance and grace, combined with girl-next-door charm established Minnie as one of the most beloved animated characters around the world.

A renowned veteran with more than 70 films, Minnie Mouse is one of Hollywood’s most prolific stars. Since the late 1920s, she’s had starring roles and has performed in a number of period pieces, costume dramas, and TV shows.

Minnie is also a long-standing fashion icon. She has served as a muse for designers, inspiring new fashion collections, and has appeared in magazines and runway shows in New York, Tokyo, and Paris. Her classic polka dot look has been reimagined by the fashion industry through the decades and continues to drive current trends. From her early pill-box flower hat, which has inspired ladies’ hat trends, to her famous bow and ears, Minnie has been looked to for style inspiration since her inception.

In addition to the glitz and glamour, Minnie is civic-minded and has used her talent and celebrity to support causes that affect countless communities in positive ways. In 2016 and 2017, Minnie was well represented by Disney fans and social media users who participated in #ShareYourEars campaigns that resulted in $4-million in donations benefitting Make-A-Wish.

Event will be live-streamed exclusively on www.walkoffame.com

Hollywood, Hollywood Legends, Hollywood Legends and Memories, Hollywood Walk of Fame, International Entertainment News, Los Angeles Life and Style

DAVID DUCHOVNY HONORED WITH STAR ON THE HOLLYWOOD WALK OF FAME

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Hollywood, Calif. – The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce honored actor David Duchovny  with the 2,572nd star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Monday, January 25.  The star in the category of Television was dedicated at 6508 Hollywood Boulevard in front of the FOX Theatre.
Hollywood Chamber to Honor David Duchovny with Walk of Fame Star

Helping Emcee and Hollywood Chamber President/CEO Leron Gubler to unveil the star was “X-Files” creator/director/executive producer Chris Carter and comedian Garry Shandling. “Fans were thrilled that their favorite actor David Duchovny was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

“He is beloved by audiences worldwide for his television and film work,” stated Ana Martinez, Producer of the Walk of Fame ceremonies.

Born and raised in New York City, Duchovny attended Princeton University where he played one season as shooting guard on the school’s basketball team. He received his Master’s Degree in English Literature from Yale and was on the road to earning his Ph.D. when he caught the acting bug.

Subsequently, Duchovny emerged to become one of the most highly acclaimed actors in Hollywood. The star of 20th Century Fox Television’s international monster hit  “The X-Files,” he was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series, he was nominated for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for his highly acclaimed and some say risqué appearances on “The Larry Sanders Show.” In January 1997, he won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series. He has been nominated for a total of three Golden Globes, three Screen Actors Guild and a TV Critic’s Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series. The press and the public both agree that Duchovny brings a fierce intellect, a quiet intensity and an acerbic wit to his roles on both the small screen and the silver screen.

Fans were happy to know that thirteen years after the original series run, the next mind-bending chapter of “The X-Files” returned  with a thrilling, six-episode event series from creator/executive producer Chris Carter, with stars Duchovny and Gillian Anderson re-inhabiting their roles as iconic FBI Agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully.  This marks the momentous return of the Emmy- and Golden Globe Award-winning pop culture phenomenon, which remains one of the longest-running sci-fi series in network television history.

The two-Night Season Premiere aired Sunday, January 24 and Monday, January 25 and the series will air in its Monday 8 PM timeslot.

Since “The X-Files” debuted, millions and millions of self-proclaimed “X-Philes” spent their Sunday nights wide-eyed in anticipation as their hero, the brilliant and sullen FBI agent Fox Mulder, explored cases deemed unbelievable or unsolvable by the Bureau. Duchovny’s remarkable performance on   “The X-Files” earned him the title of “Zeitgeist Icon” by Laura Jacobs in The New Republic, and “the first Internet sex symbol with hair” by Maureen Dowd in The New York Times.

Duchovny added the role of director to his already extensive list of accomplishments when he wrote, directed and starred in three critically acclaimed episodes of “The X-Files,” titled “The Unnatural,” which starred Jessie Martin; and “Hollywood A.D.”, starring Garry Shandling and actress Tea Leoni, and “William”. Other directing credits include the Fox hit series “Bones,” as well as, six episodes of “Californication.”

Duchovny’s passion for renegade films has brought him critical acclaim for his performances in the feature films “Kalifornia,” in which he co-starred opposite Brad Pitt; “The Rapture,” the controversial film directed by Michael Tolkin in which Duchovny starred opposite Mimi Rogers; and “Julia Has Two Lovers,” in which he turned in a much heralded performance as a telephone hustler. Duchovny played Roland “Rollie” Totheroh, Charlie Chaplin’s longtime confidante and cameraman in the Sir Richard Attenborough directed  “Chaplin,” which starred Robert Downey, Jr. in the title role; and starred in the smash hit “Beethoven,” opposite Charles Grodin and Bonnie Hunt. Feature credits include the Dreamworks action-comedy “Evolution,” opposite Julianne Moore and directed by Ivan Reitman, the MGM romantic-comedy “Return To Me,” opposite Minnie Driver, directed by Bonnie Hunt. “The X-Files” movie, and “Playing God,” with Timothy Hutton and Angelina Jolie. David went on to appear in a hilariously funny cameo in Ben Stiller’s film “Zoolander.”

David is still recognized for his role as Dennis/Denise Bryson, the transvestite detective in David Lynch’s breakthrough television series “Twin Peaks.”  Duchovny also spent four seasons as the impassioned narrator of Zalman King’s erotic anthology series Red Shoe Diaries,” which began as a feature length telefilm for Showtime.

In 2002, he starred in the Miramax ensemble comedy “Full Frontal,” for director Steven Soderbergh, co-starring Julia Roberts and George Clooney. David made brief returns to television, first appearing in good friend Bonnie Hunt’s show “Life With Bonnie,” in which he guest starred as over-the-top weatherman Johnny Volcano, for which he was nominated for an Emmy in 2003. Following that, he made a memorable appearance on “Sex And The City,” as an ex-flame of Sarah Jessica Parker’s Carrie Bradshaw character.

He made his feature directorial debut in 2005 with “House Of D” which he also wrote and appeared in. The film, which starred Robin Williams and Anton Yelchin, vividly captured the spirit of youth in all its joy and heartbreak.

Other feature credits include “Trust The Man,” “The TV Set,” “Things We Lost In The Fire,” “The Secret,” “The X-Files: I Want To Believe,” and “The Joneses.”

Duchovny ventured onto the stage starring off Broadway in Neil LaBute’s play “The Break Of Noon” in which he reunited with his “X-Files: I Want To Believe” co-star Amanda Peet.

Next, he worked on the independent features “Goats” opposite Vera Farmiga, Ty Burrell, Graham Phillips and Dakota Johnson; “Phantom” opposite Ed Harris and the independent feature “Louder Than Words” opposite Hope Davis and Timothy Hutton.

His other long-running series “Californication” ended its 7-year run in Summer of 2015 for Showtime. Hank Moody marked another seminal character portrayed by Duchovny that has made it’s its way into our pop culture lexicon, and for whose portrayal he won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Comedy series.

Duchovny recently released his first studio album for ThinkSay Records which is being distributed by Caroline, and is available for download on iTunes.

His first novel Holy Cow was released by Farrar, Straus and Giroux in February 2015 and hit The New York Times® Best Sellers list. Hisnext book called Bucky Fu##ing Dent will be published on April 5th.

Earlier this year he was seen in the Tomorrow Studios /NBC series “Aquarius,” which he executive produced and in which he stars. The complete series was released on premiere day on NBC.com, the NBC app and VOD.  He is currently shooting the 2nd Season of “Aquarius” for NBC.

Duchovny supports several charities including his recent hosting of “Red Nose Charity Day” to raise money for impoverished children in the U.S.

Story by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce

 

 

Hollywood, Hollywood Legends, Hollywood Legends and Memories, Hollywood Walk of Fame, International Entertainment News, Los Angeles, Los Angeles Life and Style

HOLLYWOOD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND WALK OF FAMER DAVE KOZ ANNOUNCE HOLLYWOOD WALK OF FAME HONOREES FOR CLASS OF 2016

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Hollywood, Calif. —A new group of entertainment professionals in Motion Pictures, Television, Live Theatre, Radio and Recording have been selected to receive stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, These honorees were chosen from among hundreds of nominations to the committee at a meeting held back in June and ratified by the Hollywood Chamber’s Board of Directors.  Musician and Walk of Famer Dave Koz announced the new honorees alongside Leron Gubler, President/CEO of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and Maureen Schultz, Chair of the Walk of Fame Selection Committee. The new selections were revealed to the world via live stream exclusively on the official website www.walkoffame.com.

“The Walk of Fame Selection Committee is excited to announce our newest honorees to the Walk of Fame. After much deliberation, we feel that we have selected a great group of talent for this coveted award. Fans from around the world will be thrilled to hear that their favorite celebrities will be honored on our world-famous Hollywood Walk of Fame,” stated Schultz. “We look forward to welcoming these great talents to our Walk of Fame family.”

The Hollywood Walk of Fame Class of 2016 are:

In the category of MOTION PICTURES:
Steve Carell, Bradley Cooper, Ashley Judd, Michael Keaton, Kurt Russell, Quentin Tarantino, and Toshiro Mifune (posthumous)

In the category of TELEVISION:
Barbara Bain, Kathy Bates, Roma Downey, David Duchovny, Allison Janney, Rob Lowe, Debra Messing, Tracy Morgan, Gary Sinise, and William S. Paley (posthumous)

In the category of RECORDING:
Shirley Caesar, LL Cool J, Cyndi Lauper, Adam Levine, Bruno Mars, Joseph B. ‘Joe’ Smith, Itzhak Perlman, ‘Mama’ Cass Elliot (posthumous)

In the category of RADIO: Ralph Lawler

In the category of LIVE THEATRE/LIVE PERFORMANCE:
Angélica María, Harvey Fierstein, and Kevin Hart

The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and its Walk of Fame Selection Committee congratulate all the honorees. Dates have not been scheduled for these star ceremonies. Recipients have two years to schedule star ceremonies from the date of selection before they expire. Upcoming star ceremonies are normally announced ten days prior to dedication on the official website www.walkoffame.com.

LL COOL J
TO BE HONORED WITH
STAR ON THE HOLLYWOOD WALK OF FAME

WHO:        Honoree: LL COOL J

Emcee:      Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, President/CEO Leron Gubler
Guest speakers: Queen Latifah and Sean “Diddy” Combs

WHAT:      Dedication of the 2,571st star on the Walk of Fame
                   in the category of Recording

WHERE:    6901 Hollywood Boulevard 
                   in front of the Hard Rock Cafe

WHEN:      Thursday, January 21, 2016 at 11:30 a.m. PST

Event will be live-streamed exclusively on www.walkoffame.com

Hollywood Chamber to Honor LL Cool J with Walk of Fame Star

The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce that LL COOL J will be honored with the 2,571st star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on January 21, 2016 at 11:30 a.m. PST. The star in the category of Recording will be dedicated at 6901 Hollywood Boulevard in front of Hollywood’s Hard Rock Cafe. “LL COOL J is one of the most popular recording artists. He has a huge following and we are proud to honor him on the Walk of Fame.” stated Ana Martinez, Producer of the Walk of Fame ceremonies.

Helping Emcee and Hollywood Chamber President/CEO Leron Gubler to unveil the star will be Queen Latifah and Sean “Diddy” Combs.

LL COOL J is an entertainment icon who has found great success crossing into multiple mediums. A two-time Grammy® Award winner, recording artist, talented actor, NAACP Image Award winner, entrepreneur and philanthropist, LL continues to display his wide range of talents with every project.

Celebrating 30 years since he first burst onto the scene, LL COOL J continues his vibrant, trailblazing career. LL COOL J began in the nascent, burgeoning rap and hip hop scene of the 80s, which developed into the musical and cultural phenomenon that is today’s hip hop. All the while, LL COOL J has remained a musical and cultural force, a living icon and a significant, relevant artist still churning out the hits.

First introduced to the world in 1984 as a Def Jam Records flagship artist, LL is the first rap artist to amass ten consecutive platinum-plus selling albums, in addition to 2004’s “THE DEFINITION” and 2006’s “TODD SMITH” which both went Gold.  The multi-platinum artist and two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominee is currently tied for third place for mostBillboard chart debuts by a rapper. In 2008, LL released his critically acclaimed album “EXIT 13,” his appropriately titled 13th and last album for the only label he has called home – Def Jam Recordings. USA Today put it best when they said, “He may be hitting the Exit, but he is not easing up on the gas.” Continuing his musical expedition three decades after he first released music, LL most recently released his critically-acclaimed 14th studio album, “AUTHENTIC.”With this album, the multi-platinum artist returned to the studio and kicked the volume up to create a powerful album that came from his true passion for music and would speak to his fans. LL scored his 13th Top-10 Album on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Chart with AUTHENTIC.

As an actor, LL COOL J has successfully transitioned to one of the consistently highest rated shows on television. He currently stars in the CBS hit primetime drama series, “NCIS: LOS ANGELES,” which is in its seventh season. Lauded as one of the most successful show launches ever, and sold into syndication after only seven episodes, his performance on the show has garnered him a NAACP Image Award four years in a row, from 2011 to 2014, for his role of ‘Special Agent Sam Hanna.’ The show is licensed in more than 200 territories around the world and translated or dubbed into dozens of languages. He previously won an NAACP Image Award for “Outstanding Male Artist” in 2003 and hosted the show in 2007.

Previously, LL had a dramatic and critically acclaimed performance on the second season premiere of FOX’s hit drama “House.” He also guest starred on the NBC comedy “30 Rock” in a memorable performance as hip hop mogul ‘Ridiculous’.

LL can currently be seen hosting and producing the Jimmy Fallon-executive produced new show Lip Sync Battle on Spike TV, which premiered in April 2015 as Spike TV’s most-watched original program ever. The series was renewed for a second season just weeks after its premiere and returned on January 7, 2016.

LL has hosted the GRAMMY® Awards for the past four years in a row, for which he has earned rave reviews. He returns as the host of the 2016 Awards on February 15, 2016 on CBS and has also hosted and produced the GRAMMY® Nominations Concert Live Special for the past seven years and has also been a presenter at the Emmy®, Golden Globe®, and SAG Awards.

Over the years, LL has appeared in more than 30 films and starred opposite acclaimed actors such as Samuel L. Jackson and Colin Farrell in Sony Pictures blockbuster “S.W.A.T.;” Al Pacino, Jamie Foxx and Cameron Diaz in Oliver Stone’s “Any Given Sunday;” and Gabrielle Union in Focus Features’ “Deliver Us from Eva.” Other film credits include “Rollerball,” “Charlie’s Angels,” “Kingdom Come,” “In Too Deep,” “Toys,” “Slow Burn” with Ray Liotta and “Eddison” with Morgan Freeman and Kevin Spacey. He also received a Blockbuster Award for best comedic performance as the ‘Chef’ in Renny Harlin’s blockbuster action film “Deep Blue Sea.” He also starred in Paramount Pictures’ “Last Holiday,” opposite Queen Latifah, which was lauded by fans and critics alike and proved to be a box office draw. He was most recently seen starring opposite Academy Award®-winner Robert De Niro in “Grudge Match.”

LL has always been an avid philanthropist involved in numerous causes including literacy for kids as well as music and arts programs in schools. Celebrating its 12th Anniversary this year, his charity “Jump & Ball” – which takes place every August in his hometown of Queens, New York – aims to give back to his local community by offering a five-week athletic and team building program dedicated to bringing wholesome fun to young people.

 

Hollywood, Hollywood Legends, Hollywood Legends and Memories, Joan Rivers, Los Angeles, Star Watch, Youth

Musings on the life of beloved comic icon, Joan Rivers

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By Margie Anne Clark

Words cannot express the sadness at the untimely death of Joan Rivers, she will be greatly missed. She’d probably be joking about it, but sadly there are few if any comics left that could say it as dead on and funny as she could.

Joan Rivers fan, Margie Anne Clark, talking with the comic icon at her book singing of Diary of a Mad Diva at Barnes and Noble the Grove Los Angeles in the summer of 2014.
Margie Anne Clark getting ready for a fan picture while talking with the legendary Joan Rivers at the comic icon’s book signing of ‘Diary of a Mad Diva’ at Barnes and Noble Bookseller at the Grove Los Angeles on July 10, 2014.  The event attracted throngs of fans, young and old alike.

She was a force of nature – smart, witty, intelligent, always making such clever connections in her jokes and it’s sad that she had to go out this way when she was in such good health and at the top of her game. But maybe she would have had it no other way …. Her ‘Fashion Police’ attracted a multi-generational audience. She was loved by young and old alike. She was too young to go, she was one of a kind. She was a Joan Ranger in the truest sense that no matter how old you are, you can always work and bring good to the world. I’m so glad that I had the opportunity to meet her, she was so great to her fans at her book signings. She said it best: “What pleasure you feel when you’ve kept people happy for an hour and a half. They’ve forgotten their troubles. It’s great. There’s nothing like it in the world. When everybody’s laughing, it’s a party.” – Miss you tons Joan Rivers! This Joan Ranger salutes you! 

Hollywood Legends, Hollywood Walk of Fame, Hollywood's beloved Honorary Mayor, Hollywood's Honorary Mayor Johnny Grant, Johnny Grant, Mickey Rooney, USO Shows

Remembering Johnny Grant, Hollywood’s beloved Honorary Mayor

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The last time I saw Johnny: Hollywood’s Honorary Mayor Johnny Grant on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame, Summer of 2007. Photo by Margie Anne Clark

 

By Margie Anne Clark

Hollywood, Calif. – Born May 9, 1923, Hollywood’s Honorary Mayor Johnny Grant is perhaps best remembered as one of Hollywood’s most enthusiastic supporters for more than 50 years. On Jan. 9, 2012, Hollywood marked the fourth anniversary of Grant’s passing with a wreath on his star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame.

His legacy of service lives on and the honorary mayor remains one of Hollywood’s most beloved icons. With his signature deep radio voice and affable charm,  Grant arrived in Tinseltown as a young man during Hollywood’s Golden Era of the 1940s.

“I was inspired by Mickey Rooney and the boys when I came out to Hollywood as a G.I.,” Grant told me in 2003 on his 80th birthday. “I knew I was never going to live anywhere else but here,” Grant reminisced.

Always hands on with all of his projects, Grant went on to serve as Chairman of the USO Selection Committee and the Hollywood Historic Trust. He not only created what was to become part of Hollywood’s history, but had been a long-time supporter for preserving Cinema City’s past. To that end, Grant was appointed to a four-year term on the City of Los Angeles’ Cultural Heritage Commission.

The last time I saw Johnny: Margie Anne Clark pictured with Hollywood’s Honorary Mayor Johnny Grant on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame, Summer of 2007.

When spectacular Hollywood special events were presented, more often than not Johnny Grant could be found at the helm.  He served as chairman and executive producer of the Hollywood Centennial Celebration, orchestrating Hollywood’s year-long 100th birthday extravaganza. He added his special charm and touch to many a Hollywood Christmas Parade, helping to direct festivities and recruiting stars. During the 2004 parade, he brought me on board as a volunteer and I observed Hollywood’s honorary mayor at work driving himself on his speedy golf cart making sure everything would be on cue.

“You carefully pick your projects and give them all you’ve got,” Grant told me. “I think you’ve got to enjoy what you do, and I certainly do.”

His dedication to the USO was legendary. In service to his country, Grant holds the record for having appeared in 56 USO shows – more than anyone in Hollywood history. Grant embraced the USO from the very start when he made his first appearance in 1950 at the encouragement of his good friend Bob Hope, who marked his  his 100th birthday back on May 29, 2003.  Grant toured with Hope on numerous USO tours. Of his iconic colleague Grant said, “Bob always saw the positive side of things.”

During Hope’s 100th birthday celebration Grant reminisced, “That ski nose was more than just a prop and he could sniff out more information on the goings-on at camp upon first arriving. He always hit it right on the nose.”

Of his last USO tour to Guantánamo Bay in 2007, Grant remained a dedicated as ever. He toured the facility flanked by an entourage of beautiful Victoria Secret models – his quick sense of humor ever in place. “It’s a tough job but somebody’s gotta do it,” Grant said.

In the last days of his life, the legendary luminary of the stars reflected, “I was born to live in Hollywood.”  He later was noted as saying; “If I died tomorrow, I know I had one of the best lives anyone could ever imagine…”

Thank you Johnny, for living your life to the fullest. Hollywood salutes you!

 

Margie Anne Clark is a Los Angeles based writer. She can be reached at  margie@losangeleslifeandstyle.com 

 

 

 

 

The last time I saw Johnny: Entertainment reporter Margie Anne Clark pictured with Hollywood’s Honorary Mayor Johnny Grant on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame, Summer of 2007.
Hollywood, Hollywood Legends, Hollywood Legends and Memories, Hollywood Theatre, Hollywood Walk of Fame, International Entertainment News, LA Music Scene, Louis Prima, Louis Prima Jr., Musical Artists

LATE KING OF SWING LOUIS PRIMA HONORED ON HOLLYWOOD’S WALK OF FAME’S 50TH ANNIVERSARY STREET FESTIVAL

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LATE KING OF SWING LOUIS PRIMA HONORED ON HOLLYWOOD’S WALK OF FAME’S 50TH ANNIVERSARY STREET FESTIVAL – JULY 26, 2010

By Margie Anne Clark
Hollywood, Calif. – Louis Prima must have been smiling in heaven as his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame was unveiled Sunday, on what would have been the iconic King of Swing’s 100th birthday.

Set amidst the bustling backdrop of the Ricardo Montalban Theater on Hollywood and Vine, the unabashed spirit of Prima shook the pavement as the late jazz singer’s son, Louis Prima Jr. and the Witnesses – and the lovely Sarah Spiegel dazzled the crowd with such familiar ballads as “I Ain’t Got Nobody,” “Buona Sera, Zooma-Zooma,” “Jump,Jive And Wail.” Prima’s children, Louis Prima Jr. and Lena Prima accepted the Star on behalf of their legendary father.

The late Prima’s centennial star unveiling coincided with the day-long “Walk the Walk” Community Festival in Hollywood Honoring the Hollywood Walk Of Fame’s 50th Anniversary.

Louis Prima remains one of the greatest contributors to popular music and a powerful entertainment influence during the past eight decades.

Pictured above, Louis Prima Jr. poses by his father’s star and trumpet on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The star unveiling was held in conjunction with the Hollywood Walk of Fame’s 50th anniversary and in commemoration of what would have been Louis Prima’s 100th birthday.  (Photo by Margie Anne Clark, Los Angeles Life and Style/City Life Communications.)

A new era of music began when Louis left his hometown of New Orleans, Louisiana and launched his recording career in 1933 in Chicago with upbeat renditions of Dinah and Chinatown. He defined the early Swing Era in New York and Hollywood with his New Orleans Gang and had an incredible output of recordings and appearances in films and on stage between 1934-39.

The Prima recordings of It’s The Rhythm In Me, Lazy River, and his own immortal composition Sing, Sing, Sing (also a Benny Goodman hit) had legions of fans swing dancing from The Famous Door on 52nd Street in New York to the hottest spots in Hollywood. The swing trend escalated and grew thanks to Prima’s driving force. His music skyrocketed in popularity, eventually surpassing the sales of the number one band at the time, Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians. Louis and his twenty-two piece orchestra scored a tremendous hit in 1944 with a million-seller entitled Angelina.

He topped the charts throughout the Big Band Era with Majestic, Hit, RCA, and Robin Hood label recordings of Robin Hood, I’ll Walk Alone, Josephina, Please No Squeeza Da Banana, Baciagaloop, Felicia No Capicia, Civilization, Oh Babe, and many others.

The King of Swing made entertainment history during this time, breaking all house attendance records wherever he performed across the nation.

During the golden age of jazz, Prima composed A Sunday Kind of Love in 1946, and the song became a hit during four decades and six different musical genres including Swing, Doo-Wop, Rock & Roll, Rhythm & Blues, Jazz, and Country! The song would appear on the charts for many other prominent artists who also recorded this Prima standard.

With his musical comedic flair, Prima was one of the founding fathers of the Las Vegas entertainment scene. He downsized his big band in 1954, and created a small group that he named The Witnesses. Prima’s shuffle beat, combined with New Orleans Jazz, was a predecessor to what became the Rock & Roll sound of the 1950s.

The string of hits on Capitol Records that followed included ‘Just a Gigolo,/I Ain’t Got Nobody, ‘Buona Sera, Zooma-Zooma, Jump,Jive, And Wail, When You’re Smiling,’ and many others. Louis was also awarded the first Grammy award in the Vocal Group category for his knockout rendition of ‘That Old Black Magic’ with Keely Smith and Sam Butera & The Witnesses in 1958.

In 1963, he fulfilled one of his lifelong dreams: Prima Magnagroove Records, his own recording studio and record company. He would record for his Prima Label from 1963 through 1975.

During his five decade career, Louis Prima recorded almost one thousand individual recordings released on 26 different labels.

Louis provided the voice of King Louie in the award-winning Disney production of The Jungle Book in 1966.The film was nominated for an Oscar, and Louis received a gold album for the soundtrack recording.

Louis Prima continued to break attendance records at The Sahara Hotel, The Sands Hotel, The Hilton and Tropicana Hotels in Las Vegas, Harrah’s Reno and Lake Tahoe, The Copacabana in New York, and prominent venues throughout the country during the 1960s and 1970s.

He also appeared constantly on every mainstream television show including The Ed Sullivan Show, The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson, The Joey Bishop Show, The Merv Griffin Show, The Dean Martin Show, The David Frost Show, and many others. His final musical projects were uncompleted score and dialogue sessions for the Disney film The Rescuers.

The diagnosis of a benign brain tumor in late 1975 promptly halted his very active recording and performance schedules. The surgery that followed would send Louis into a semi-comatose state until his death in 1978.

His legend and music live on in full force. Louis’ award winning composition Sing, Sing, Sing was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1982. ASCAP posthumously awarded Louis their prestigious Songwriter’s Award for A Sunday Kind Of Love in 1989. Artists as diverse as David Lee Roth, Reba McEntire and Brian Setzer would bring Prima’s music to the top of the charts in the 80s and 90s.

In 1998 The Gap stores brought Louis to the attention of a new generation with their television commercial featuring a song that Louis wrote and recorded entitled ‘Jump, Jive an’ Wail.’

Popular modern performers such as Jessica Simpson, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, The Royal Crown Revue and many others have constantly covered Louis’ music.

His ground-breaking Capitol album, The Wildest, was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999. The Louis Prima Capitol Collectors Series compilation CD was certified gold by the RIAA and his Live From Las Vegas CD landed on the Billboard Top Jazz Album chart in 2005.

The Louis Prima Centennial Celebration is underway throughout the year of 2010 for the millions of Prima fans at special events spanning the globe, on radio stations around the world, and online.

This landmark year also brings several special honors recognizing Louis Prima for his many entertainment contributions along with his music featured in the 2010 Olympics, in several major motion pictures, television shows, commercials and video games!

Special commemorative editions of the classic and exclusive Prima Label recordings by Louis Prima now available on remastered compact discs at www.LouisPrima.com. Louis Prima, Jr. and Lena Prima continue to perpetuate their father’s grand tradition of exhilarating live performances, thrilling standing-room-only audiences from coast to coast.

For more information about Louis Prima Jr. and the Witnesses visit:http://louisprimajr.com/review/late-king-of-swing-louis-prima-honored-on-hollywoods-walk-of-fame/
For information on the “Walk the Walk” festival and other 50th Anniversary celebrations visit www.WalkofFame50.com.

http://louisprimajr.com/review/late-king-of-swing-louis-prima-honored-on-hollywoods-walk-of-fame/