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‘Rediscovering a Musical Icon’ is theme of Louis Prima exhibition in Jersey City
NJArts.net
written by JAY LUSTIG April 10, 2026
At the first Grammy Awards ceremony, in 1959, Louis Prima was one of the winners: his duet with Keely Smith on “That Old Black Magic” won Best Performance by a Vocal Group or Chorus. That Grammy statuette can now be seen — along with his trumpet, hand-written sheet music, stage outfits and many other artifacts — in “Louis Prima: Rediscovering a Musical Icon,” an exhibition that will be at The Italian Educational & Cultural Center at Casa Colombo in Jersey City, through August.
Also on view are photos, album covers, a warm letter from Frank Sinatra (including an off-color joke), cels from the 1967 animated movie “The Jungle Book” (the irrepressible Prima was well cast as the irrepressible King Louie and sang “I Wan’na Be Like You,” which became one of his best known songs), and much more. Befitting Prima’s buoyant stage persona, it’s an exhibition full of bright colors and bold images.
Louis Prima with King Louie, in an image that can be seen in “Louis Prima: Rediscovering a Musical Icon.”
You can also hear his music there, and watch a short film about him. Placards offer information on subjects such as “Prima’s Early Years,” “Prima’s Italian American Identity,” ” ‘Sing, Sing, Sing’: Prima Takes New York,” ” ‘Let’s Get Together and Swing’: Prima’s Creative Partners” and ” ‘I’m the King of the Swingers, the Jungle VIP’: Prima and Disney.”
The exhibition opened last month with a reception that attracted a full house of people, who looked at the displays and listened to songs associated with Prima — such as “Jump, Jive an’ Wail,” “Just a Gigolo/I Ain’t Got Nobody,” “Che la Luna,” “Pennies From Heaven,” “When You’re Smiling” and “A Sunday Kind of Love” — sung live by Vanessa Racci and Michal Ragosa. These two are far too young to have experienced Prima in his prime (he died in 1978, at the age of 67) but still consider him to be an important influence.
“Louis was very special because not only did he popularize jump blues in the 1950s, but he also made it cool to be Italian at a time when people were trying to hide their ethnic identity,” said Racci.
“Growing up, my parents, on Sundays, of course … my mom was making sauce,” said Ragosa. “She would have Frank Sinatra on, Louis Prima, Dean Martin. And there was always something different about Louis Prima. You don’t really have to watch him to hear the amount of energy that this guy had … being an aspiring entertainer, it’s just very motivating … not only was he a musician, but he was also an entertainer.”
“Louis Prima: Rediscovering a Musical Icon” relies heavily on items owned and preserved by the Jersey-based Gia Maione Prima Foundation. Gia Maione Prima, a New Jersey native who died in 2013, started singing with Prima in 1962, and was his wife from 1963 until his death. She launched the foundation with Anthony Sylvester, her lawyer and advisor, about two years before she died. The foundation is a founding supporter of NJArts.net and generously donates to many other arts causes in New Jersey, New Orleans (Louis Prima’s hometown) and other locations.
Two attendees of the “Louis Prima: Rediscovering a Musical Icon” opening reception check out some of it.
In 2019, The Gia Maione Prima Foundation sponsored a different exhibition, “The Wildest: Louis Prima Comes Home,” at The New Orleans Jazz Museum. “Louis Prima: Rediscovering a Musical Icon” ran first at The Italian American Museum of Los Angeles, in 2024.
The Jersey City exhibition is produced as a collaboration between The Gia Maione Prima Foundation and The IAMLA.
At the reception, IAMLA executive director and co-founder Marianna Gatto acknowledged Sylvester as “the individual who made this all possible” and said: “We approached The Gia Maione Prima Foundation in 2021 with a request to borrow an artifact. From that, came this exhibition. We’re super proud to share it with the community on the East Coast.”
“Louis Prima: Rediscovering a Musical Icon” can be seen at The Italian Educational & Cultural Center at Casa Colombo in Jersey City, through August. Visit casacolombo.org.
CASA COLUMBO TO CELEBRATE LOUIS PRIMA WITH LIVE MUSIC & EXHIBITION OPENING
Casa Colombo is opening its doors on Sunday, March 15 to honor one of the great figures in American music. The Italian Educational & Cultural Center is marking the opening of Louis Prima: Rediscovering a Musical Icon — a nationally touring exhibition celebrating Prima's life and legacy — with an afternoon of live music featuring vocalists Michael Ragosa and Vanessa Racioppo. The event runs from 3:00 to 6:00 PM at 380 Monmouth Street in Jersey City and is free and open to the public.
The exhibition was produced by the Italian American Museum of Los Angeles in collaboration with the Gia Maione Prima Foundation. It's been drawing crowds since 2023, tracing Prima's story from the streets of New Orleans to the top of the Vegas strip through rare photos, personal memorabilia, and artifacts. Prima was a Grammy-winning hitmaker who never downplayed his Italian-American roots, at a time when plenty of performers felt pressure to do exactly that.
Ragosa's set draws from Prima's catalog, including Pennies from Heaven, Just a Gigolo/I Ain't Got Nobody, Angelina/Zooma Zooma, I've Got the World on a String, and I Wanna Be Like You. He and Racioppo will share the stage for a duet on That Old Black Magic, with Racioppo performing additional songs as well.
Casa Colombo has been a cornerstone of Jersey City's Italian-American community since 1936. Built by immigrants, it houses two art galleries, a performance space, and Heritage Hall — a collection of artifacts brought to America by Italian immigrants.
I'M STILL SMILIN
By Michael Ragosa
Sunday afternoon at Casa Colombo in Jersey City was one of those moments I won't forget. The opening reception for 'Louis Prima: Rediscovering A Musical Icon' was packed, warm, and honestly — exactly what music is supposed to feel like.
I grew up in Jersey with Italian roots. Prima's music wasn't something I discovered, it was just always there. The swagger, the joy, the humor — the guy was one of a kind. So getting to sing that music inside an exhibition built entirely around his life, right here at home? That meant everything to me.
None of it happens without the people in my corner though. To my family and friends who came out and have supported me every step of the way — thank you. You show up, you believe in this, and I don't take that for granted for one second.
To Lisa Collodoro, Executive Director and Curator of the IECC at Casa Colombo, Chairman Patrick A. O'Boyle, Esq., Michael Toto, and the entire Board of Casa Colombo — thank you for opening your doors, hosting this exhibition, and making the whole day feel so special. The care and dedication you bring to that building and everything it stands for really shows.
To Anthony J. Sylvester, Trustee of the Gia Maione Prima Foundation — thank you for keeping Louis Prima's legacy alive and for making this show possible. The work the Foundation does is something special and it shows in everything surrounding this exhibition.
And to Marianna Gatto, Executive Director and Co-founder of the Italian American Museum of Los Angeles — thank you for bringing this to the East Coast and for building something that honors Prima the way he deserves. What you've created with the IAMLA is extraordinary.
Vanessa Racci — I have to say, sharing that stage with you made the whole afternoon something else entirely. There's a real chemistry when two people are genuinely feeling the music, and that's exactly what Sunday was. You brought so much warmth and talent to every moment and it made me better up there. Grateful we got to do this together.
And to everyone who came out — seriously, thank you. You made the room.
If you haven't seen the exhibition yet, please go. 'Louis Prima: Rediscovering A Musical Icon' is running at the IECC at Casa Colombo in Jersey City through August 15th, 2026. It covers his whole story — his roots, his rise, his role in putting Las Vegas on the map, and his legacy as a proudly Italian American performer at a time when that took real courage. Personal effects, rare photos, memorabilia — it's all there. Whether you grew up with "Sing, Sing, Sing" or you're hearing his name for the first time, you'll leave a believer.
Open Wednesdays & Thursdays 10am–3pm, Saturdays 1pm–4pm, and by appointment on weekends. Don't sleep on it.
Grazie. 🎶
Michael Ragosa
MICHAEL RAGOSA BRINGS CLASSIC POP & JAZZ STANDARDS TO LIFE FOR NEW GENERATION
New York, NY — Vocalist Michael Ragosa is emerging as a compelling young voice in jazz and classic pop, delivering performances that combine traditional musicianship with modern energy and audience connection. A graduate student in Jazz Studies at the Conservatory of Music at Purchase College, Michael focuses on vocal performance and interpretation within the tradition of American jazz and popular song. His academic work includes composition, arranging, jazz harmony, and melodic phrasing — disciplines that directly inform his work on stage.
During his undergraduate studies at Lafayette College, Ragosa was named a recipient of the John D. Raymond Music Award, recognizing outstanding achievement and contribution to the music program. In announcing the award, faculty described him as “a positive force in the department — active, professional, and always willing to push himself beyond his comfort zone in pursuit of growth.” He was further recognized as compassionate, well-rounded, and driven — qualities that continue to define his approach as a performer.
Michael performs in the lineage of classic vocal entertainers such as Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Dean Martin, Billy Joel, and Elton John, while drawing influence from contemporary performers including Michael Bublé and Bruno Mars. What connects these artists is more than vocal ability. It is presence. Rhythm. Command of a room.
He approaches performance as a full experience. The goal is not simply to sing well, but to engage, connect, and leave audiences wanting more. He is drawn to classic pop from the 1960s through the present, along with material from the Great American Songbook. While some standards can feel overly sentimental or dated on the surface, Ragosa focuses on finding emotional truth in the lyric and delivering it with authenticity. If the emotion feels real, the audience responds.
At the center of his vision is atmosphere — the kind found in an old-school celebration or classic supper club evening — presented in a way that connects with today’s audiences. He wants a room fully engaged. He wants people smiling, leaning forward, and asking for one more song.
Michael is also focused on bridging generations. While traditional jazz audiences remain essential, he is equally committed to reaching younger listeners without compromising the integrity of the music. Through thoughtful performance and active digital engagement, he is building a multi-generational audience that values both tradition and energy.
His background extends beyond music. Michael has received professional tap dance instruction, strengthening his rhythmic precision and internal timing. He also holds a third-degree black belt in Taekwondo, developing discipline, focus, and physical control — qualities that translate directly to confident stage presence.
Michael Ragosa is currently booking club dates, supper club engagements, theater performances, festivals, and curated private events. Performances are available in multiple formats, including trio, quartet, and expanded band.
I'm Still Smiling.
During his undergraduate studies at Lafayette College, Ragosa was named a recipient of the John D. Raymond Music Award, recognizing outstanding achievement.