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

When 24-year old trumpetplayer/vocalist/bandleader Louis Prima brought his “Primastyle” orchestra to Chicago for a fall and winter engagement at the Blackhawk restaurant on Randolph and Wabash, the New Orleans maestro introduced a new kind of music there. His orchestra could also be heard on a nightly schedule over WGN and the Mutual Brooadcasting System. While in Chicago, Prima also recorded for Vocalion and Brunswick with his New Orleans Gang. One of the numbers of the November 16, 1936 session was his own composition “What Will Santa Claus Say (When He Finds Everybody Swingin’).

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-double bass; and George Pemberty-drums.