Keely Smith, the iconic jazz and pop vocalist who achieved success as both a solo artist and with her musical partnership with first husband Louis Prima, died on Dec. 16 in Palm Springs.<\/p>\n
She was 89.<\/p>\n
The singer was \u201cunder physicians\u2019 care at the time of her passing from apparent heart failure,\u201d according to publicist Bob Merlis.<\/p>\n
Smith was a Grammy-winning talent who gained much attention when as a teenager she got the job as the \u201cgirl singer\u201d in Prima\u2019s band in 1948.<\/p>\n
She married Prima in 1953 and achieved success together throughout the entertainment business, starring in stage, television and movies and releasing hit records.<\/p>\n
They\u2019d win a Grammy in 1959 \u2014 the first year the awards were handed out \u2014 for best pop vocal performance by a duo or group for their smash \u201cThat Old Black Magic,\u201d which remained on the charts for 18 weeks.<\/p>\n
Prima and Smith had two children, Toni Prima and Luanne Prima, both of whom survive their mother. Louis Prima died in 1978.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
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The LOUIE LOUIE connection is there. Here’s a few things…<\/p>\n
1) Louis Prima<\/strong> (with Sam Butera<\/strong>) were amongst the earliest musicians to ever cover a Richard Berry<\/strong> song when they recorded “(There’ll Be No) Next Time” in 1957.<\/p>\nHere’s Richard’s original version:<\/p>\n
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