Louis & Keeley Live at the Sahara
The Geffen Playhouse
Los Angeles, CA
By Victoria Joyce
(SugarBuzz Hollywood)
SugarBuzz Magazine
All self-respecting Rockers know that it was invented by the Blessed Trinity of Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry and Little Richard and made manifest by Elvis Presley. However, in ancient times, there were rhythms and rhymes that jerked and jived, shook up the kids, offended parents and paved the way for Punk, Glam and Metal.
Right now, across the street from UCLA at The Geffen Playhouse (thanks, David), there is a stage show of a stage show, “Louis & Keeley, Live at the Sahara,” and it is jumping and jamming, Daddy-O!
This stage presentation traces the roots of Louis Prima, a Sicilian from New Orleans and a hell of a musician (David Lee Roth’s cover of “Just a Gigolo” was a Prima hit) and songwriter (“Sing, Sing, Sing” for Benny Goodman) and one of the links between the Big Bands of the 40s and The Rock of the 50s along with artists like Louis Jordan and Fats Waller. These guys paved the way. We owe them.
The show has been around LA for a year or so and has been re-staged by one Taylor Hackford, the film director who did “Ray,” “La Bamba,” and “Hail, Hail, Rock and Roll” the Chuck Berry rockumentary. Taylor knows music. The show is selling out and winning lots of local awards. Buzz is that this stage play will make the transition to the screen. Duh!
Opening with Louis on his deathbed, we are presented with memories of his early days of gigging and meeting up with a beautiful young lady who could sing and hypnotize at the same time. That’s Keeley Smith. Ms. Smith is half Cherokee and is Betty Page Beautiful. Still alive and she is thanked in the playbill for her contribution so you know this stuff is for real.
Louis Prima shapes their sound with Be Bop and Blues, adds a drumming shuffle and Keeley’s deadpan deep delivery (it was very Sonny and Cher) and they hit the big time with a nightly gig at the Sahara Lounge in Vegas from midnight to dawn. They were the hottest show in town.
Frank Sinatra catches them one night and the Pre-Rat Pack is born. Frank loves Keely’s voice (and the rest of her) and gets her a record deal with Capitol. Francis Albert then goes on to produce her first record and Keeley has Number Ones all over the place. Uh, songs, that is.
So you get it, right? Adultery, jealousy, desert drama and the sweetest music you ever heard. The show has twenty-one songs in all.
Jake Broder and Vanessa Claire Smith are nothing but brilliant as Louis and Keely. The other players are real musicians that back them up on stage. Colin Kupka almost steals the show as the immortal Sam Butera. Sam didn’t invent the saxophone, but he perfected it. Serious rock roots here. There is a difference between doing and impression and doing a portrayal. Actor Nick Cagle doesn’t look like Frank but he IS Sinatra and you buy it heart and soul. Catch it if your can. Or wait for Netflix.
Sing, Sing, Sing!