Gia Maione

Gia Maione Prima ( born May 20, 1941 in Roebling (New Jersey), † September 23, 2013 in Florida ) was an American singer and the widow of singer Louis Prima.

Life and career

Gia Maione had as a child piano and singing lessons; after their graduation in 1959 at the Toms River High School in New Jersey, she received the National Arion Society Award in Music. To study with the intention of at the Julliard School of Music in New York City, Gia took a job at the Howard Johnson's restaurant and had next to piano and singing lessons. She worked at the age of 21 years as a cloakroom attendant at a casino in New Jersey, when she met Louis Prima, who was after the separation of Keely Smith, with whom he stood on stage together, searching for a new singing partner. After two years, Gia Maione 1963 was the fifth wife of Prima. They appeared together in casinos and clubs, as well as in television shows such as The Ed Sullivan Show and The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson as well as Merv Griffin, Steve Lawrence, Art Linkletter, Bob Hope and Dean Martin.

With Louis Prima, she took 14 albums and numerous singles on how Ooh, Look What You've Done to Me / Big Daddy with Sam Butera and The Witnesses for Capitol Records ( 1962) as well as the pop songs Sunday Lover, On the Other Side of Tears and I've Got a Crush on You ( 1964). After her husband's death in 1978 she took over the care of the estate and released recordings on labels Prima Music, LLC and the website louisprima.com. For this primate belonged album Angelina Italian Novelty songs.