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June 04, 2009

Sam Butera, famed Louis Prima saxophonist, R.I.P....

New Orleans Times-Picayune | Read Full Story >

Keith Spera:

Sam Butera, the hard-driving, hard-swinging New Orleans saxophonist who was Louis Prima’s longtime musical partner, died Wednesday in Las Vegas following a long illness. He was 81.

Mr. Butera joined Prima’s band in 1954. With singer Keely Smith, they built one of the most popular acts in the golden age of Las Vegas. Mr. Butera cooked up the arrangements that gave the likes of “Just a Gigolo,” “I Ain’t Got Nobody” and “Jump Jive An’ Wail” maximum impact.

“Louis’s ace-in-the-hole was Sam Butera,” said Gia Prima, the fifth of Louis’s five wives and the singer in his band from 1962 to 1975. “That animal attraction that they had, with Sam’s honking sax and Louis’s jumping and jiving—without Sam, Louis couldn’t have pulled it off.”


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#1 thirteenburn says:

Sad news and the music world lost another great contributor and human being and he will be sorely missed.

While I wasn't fortunate enough to be alive during the heyday of swingin', mob-run Vegas, but I've had the distinct pleasure of watching some classic footage of the man and he was one of a kind.

My thoughts and prayers go out to Mr. Butera's family and friends in their time of pain and sorrow.

R.I.P. & God Speed, Sam. The music world got a little darker here on Earth, but definitely got brighter in Heaven.


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