Biography
Vocalist Lena Prima developed a distinctive presence in cabaret by drawing on the swinging jazz idiom long identified with her father, the singer and trumpeter Louis Prima. Active on stage from early childhood, she first gained recognition performing with cover bands throughout the Las Vegas circuit during the 1990s, then established an independent identity in subsequent decades through the soul-infused 2014 release Starting Something and the 2018 standards collection Prima La Famiglia.
Born in Las Vegas in 1965, she spent her formative years in New Orleans with her brother Louis Prima, Jr. and her parents—Louis Prima and his fifth wife, the singer Gia Maione. At age five she began appearing alongside her parents, later refining her abilities during high school and college. For more than two decades she continued working with assorted cover ensembles on the Las Vegas circuit before fully embracing her familial heritage in the early 1990s and conceiving her own ensemble devoted to swing, jazz, and standards material. Her first recording, the 2007 standards album Reminiscing, spotlighted songs frequently linked to her father.
After a 2010 appearance at New Orleans Jazz Fest—where she, her brother, and Keely Smith, Louis Prima’s former wife and partner, each presented separate tribute performances—she chose to move back to the city long associated with her family. Since 2011 she and her husband, bassist Tim Fahey, have resided in New Orleans, maintaining a regular engagement at the Hotel Monteleone in the French Quarter. That same year she issued Starting Something, an album of original funk- and soul-tinged pop songs.
Beyond her performances, Prima supports the Italian American community as founder of the nonprofit organization CIAO Women!, which assists Italian women engaged in local civic efforts, and she also designs and markets her own handmade jewelry. In 2018 she joined Basin Street Records and, the following year, delivered Prima La Famiglia, a selection of classic numbers drawn from the Italian-American songbook.
Born in Las Vegas in 1965, she spent her formative years in New Orleans with her brother Louis Prima, Jr. and her parents—Louis Prima and his fifth wife, the singer Gia Maione. At age five she began appearing alongside her parents, later refining her abilities during high school and college. For more than two decades she continued working with assorted cover ensembles on the Las Vegas circuit before fully embracing her familial heritage in the early 1990s and conceiving her own ensemble devoted to swing, jazz, and standards material. Her first recording, the 2007 standards album Reminiscing, spotlighted songs frequently linked to her father.
After a 2010 appearance at New Orleans Jazz Fest—where she, her brother, and Keely Smith, Louis Prima’s former wife and partner, each presented separate tribute performances—she chose to move back to the city long associated with her family. Since 2011 she and her husband, bassist Tim Fahey, have resided in New Orleans, maintaining a regular engagement at the Hotel Monteleone in the French Quarter. That same year she issued Starting Something, an album of original funk- and soul-tinged pop songs.
Beyond her performances, Prima supports the Italian American community as founder of the nonprofit organization CIAO Women!, which assists Italian women engaged in local civic efforts, and she also designs and markets her own handmade jewelry. In 2018 she joined Basin Street Records and, the following year, delivered Prima La Famiglia, a selection of classic numbers drawn from the Italian-American songbook.
Albums