Louis Prima—”What Will Santa Claus Say?” (1936)

In 1936 Louis Prima wrote “What Will Santa Claus Say?” He recorded it with his New Orleans Gang in Chicago, Illinois, on November 16, 1936.

Louis Prima and his New Orleans Gang: Louis Prima-trumpet and vocal; Red Bolmar-trumpet; Julian Laine-trombone; Meyer Weinberg-clarinet; Sal Franzella and Hal Jordy-alto saxophones; Joe Catalyne-tenor saxophone; Frank Pinero-piano; Garry McAdams-guitar; Jack Ryan-string bass; and George Pemberty-drums.-

After leaving New York in September 1936, Crescent city native Louis Prima (1910-1978) proceeded to Hollywood where he starred with Bing Crosby in Adolph Zuker’s Paramount Picture, “Rhythm on the Range.” Augmenting his original New Orleans Gang from five to thirteen pieces, Prima was then chosen to play at the famous Blackhawk café in Chicago. While there he recorded this song for the Vocalion label.

After regular radio appearances and a few one-nighters (a.o. in Iowa), Prima was appearing on stage in Wisconsin with his gang in the “Swing It” revue . His swing band was applauded as it “tooted, blasted and twanged’ … and a newspaper review of their appearance at the Orpheum Theater in Madison refers to the fact that even then jazz improvisations on popular song were not immediately recognized everybody. One reporter wrote about Louis Prima “it was a good thing for most of the audience that he announced he was to play ‘Dinah’ before he attempted it.”