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Courtesy of Prima Music, L.L.C.
Sam Butera, right, performs with Louis Prima, left, Rolondo “Rolly-Dee” Diloria (bass) and Jimmy Vincent (drums). This photo, according to the Louis Prima Archives, is from the mid 1960s in Las Vegas. They often performed in the Casbah Lounge in the Sahara Hotel and Casino.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009 | 6:22 p.m.
Legendary saxophonist Sam Butera poses Wednesday, April 19, 2000.
Sam Butera and Louis Prima
Sam Butera - Chantilly Lace
Sun Archives
- Q&A: Play It Again, Sam (5-23-2000)
- Columnist Joe Delaney: Give Prima, Butera, Guercio their due (5-23-1999)
Another link to Las Vegas’ storied past was cut Wednesday morning with the passing of legendary jazz saxophonist Sam Butera, sideman to another Vegas legend, Louis Prima.
Family friends said Butera died at about 6 a.m. at Sunrise Hospital, where he had been since early January suffering from the effects of Alzheimer's Disease.
Butera, who retired in 2004, would have been 82 in August.
Prima died at the age of 67 in 1978, three years after lapsing into a coma during surgery to remove a brain tumor.
The music of Prima and Butera resurfaces from time to time, played in film sound tracks an commercials. A Gap commerical in the '90s, featuring “Jump, Jive and Wail” gave Butera’s career a boost.
“Louis Prima’s true ace in the hole for 21 years was Sam Butera,” Prima’s widow, Gia Maione, said during a telephone call from her home in Florida. “I don’t care what vocalists were with Louis, his true ace in the hole was Sam Butera. Side by side, Louis and Sam kicked Las Vegas’ butt for 21 years.”
Maione joined Prima’s group after Prima and vocalist Keely Smith divorced in 1961.
“I really do not believe over all of these years that Sam Butera got the accolades he deserved as a tenor saxophone player,” Maione, 67, said. “I defy anyone to name someone that played better tenor sax that Sam Butera.
“From the day I got the job with Louis, before every show every night, emanating from the dressing room you would hear Sam running his scales, running his fingering, making sure his mouthpiece and reed were perfect. He was a technician beyond belief with that instrument, let alone the showman that he was. And you put those two side by side, Prima and Butera, that was it.”
She says her husband didn’t get the credit he deserved, either.
“Both of them were such great showmen and they had so much fun that people overlooked the skill because they were having too much fun,” she said.
Maione remained close to Butera and his family after Prima died in a hospital in New Orleans, the home town of both Prima and Butera.
“It’s a very, very sad day,” she said. “We were very close through the years. I was in very close communications with Sam, especially since he retired. I’ve been in touch with his wife, Vera, weekly since he became ill. He was in the hospital from Jan. 3 until now. He was in the grips of Alzheimer’s. He lapsed into a coma, and then he was gone.”
Sam and Vera Butera were married 62 years.
“They were high school sweethearts,” Mainoe said.
The couple had four children.
Maione said four or five days ago Mrs. Butera was injured while going to the hospital to see her husband.
“She was walking through the parking lot at hospital and got hit by a truck,” Maione said. “Miraculously, nothing was broken but she has an injury to her back. She’s at home now but isn’t speaking to anyone because of the severe pain form her back. The family doesn’t know when the funeral arrangements will be made. They don’t know when their mother will be able to attend the funeral.”
Butera was born on Aug. 17, 1927. His father owned a butcher shop and played guitar and the concertina in his spare time. Butera studied clarinet in school but eventually turned to the saxophone. At the age of 18 was featured in Look magazine as one of the top young jazzmen in the country.
Butera was also an excellent athlete. He received a track scholarship and a music scholarship to Notre Dame, but a leg injury ended his track career and he decided to pursue music instead of going to college.
He quickly began performing around the country with the top bands of the day, including Tommy Dorsey and Joe Reichman. His said his major influences in those years were Charlie Ventura, Lester Young, Gene Ammons, Charlie Parker and Big Jay McNeely.
Butera formed his own group after returning to New Orleans and began a four-year engagement at the 500 Club.
Ron Cannatella, official archivist for Prima Music LLC in New Orleans, had a personal relationship with Butera.
“Both of my grandfathers knew Sam,” Cannatella said.
He said Prima’s brother, Leon, saw Butera performing at the Perez’ Oasis club and told Louis about him. Prima liked what he saw and in 1954 when he and Keely Smith were booked at the Sahara in Las Vegas he asked Butera to join them.
“He wanted Sam to start on Christmas Eve, 1954, but Sam told Louis he needed to spend Christmas with his family, which he did,” Cannatella said. “The Day after Christmas, on Dec. 26, 1954, Sam joined Louis in Las Vegas and was his sidekick and sideman until 1975, when Louis was operated on for the brain tumor.”
Together Prima and Butera appeared on every major television show in the '60s and '70s, including Johnny Carson, Dinah Shore, Dean Martin, Danny Thomas, Bob Hope and Mike Douglas.
“Their last appearance together on television was 'The Merv Griffin Show' in 1975,” Cannatella said.
They made many albums together, including “The Wildest” and “The Call of the Wildest” (both in 1957), but Butera also made albums on his own, including “The Rat Race” (in 1960), which was a soundtrack from a film Butera appeared in with Tony Curtis.
They recorded albums for Capital, Dot and Buena Vista record labels, Cannatella said.
They appeared in movies together (“Hey Boy, Hey Girl” and “Twist All Night”).
“Sam also worked with Louis on the film 'Jungle Book’ for Disney,” Cannatella said.
Butera was not selfish with his music.
“Back when Allen Toussaint composed the song 'Java,’ Allen had initially given the song to Sam but Sam felt that Al Hirt should be the one to record it and Sam gave it Al and it became a big hit.”
After Louis became incapacitated, Butera’s career continued to flourish until the early 2000s when work in Las Vegas began to slow down and he had to spend a lot of time on the road.
He made his last appearance in New Orleans in 2003 when he was inducted into the Hall of Fame there.
Cannatella visited with Butera in 2005, after Hurricane Katrina devastated his home town.
“He was saddened to find out so many of the clubs and places he had played were no longer there,” Cannatella said. “Sam was a wonderful guy, a family oriented man.”
He called Butera’s passing, “A great loss to his family and to the musical world, because Sam was one of the greatest saxophone players of all time.”
Louis Prima Jr. knew Butera well because of his father, but had no personal relationship with him.
“I’ve known him most of my life,” said Prima, who has his own band and is trying to keep his father’s music alive, though it is difficult in these economic times. “Unchallenged, without a doubt Sam Butera was the most talented, greatest sax player there ever was and probably will be.
“He was an incredible musician who never missed a beat.”
Prima’s sister Lena has performed a tribute show to her father for many years.
She says she and Butera never performed together, but once placed opposite each other at Palace Station lounges.
“There wasn’t anybody like him,” Lena Prima said. “He had that New Orleans style and sound that a lot of sax players who came out of New Orleans had. But he was special, one of a kind. In combination with my father, they were amazing. He was very talented. I loved his singing too. He had a really unique singing voice.”
Of course, they were as big as one could get back in the Sahara days.
I saw Louis Prima, Keely Smith and Sam Butera and the Witnesses at the Palmer House in Chicago in the early to middle sixties, and Sam and his crew at the Desert Inn just some years back.
Put on quite a show.
Thanks for all the great music.
R.I.P Sam Butera
My wife first met Sam when she was 11 and remains a fan to this day.My fondest memories are of Sam at the Tropicana,rotating with the Treniers and Lil' Elmo,can you say "LIVE MUSIC" Las Vegas? Sam was a true showman.A very special show will take place at the Las Vegas Hilton starring The "Royal Crown Review" of which Sam was a huge influence,6/04/09.I will always love you Sam and will always remember the joy you brought to every audience member including myself.
Dickie Pride
I first met Sam at the Resorts International in Atlantic City. What a great relationship started right at the start. Sam and I and the rest of the Wildest were in touch all these years. There was nobody who could touch the way Sam played Sax. The greatest Sax player and entertainer of all times. After Sam retired we still kept in touch by telephone. What a great gentleman. I sure will miss you. I am proud to say that you made me your friend.
Joe Cavallaro, Elmira, New York
SAM BUTERA, WAS IN MY OPPINION, THE BEST SAX MAN EVER. I'VE WORKED WITH MOST OF THE "GREATS", BUT SAMMY WAS "THE MAN".
I was sad to hear the news today about the passing of the 'great' Sam Butera. My good friend (and outstanding drummer who played with Sam) Bobby Ruggiero notified me.
I have been very fortunate as a musician and booking agent to have known Sam and his band over the past 15 years or so. Sam was such a great player, vocalist and showman and always had first rate musicians backing him up. My wife and I will always remember seeing him on the strip at Tropicana, the Orleans Hotel and when they played Jazz Fest in New Orleans. I booked the band a couple of times for private events and those people that booked "Sam and the Wildest" were very fortunate to have had them perform for their guests. Sam was always a gracious man, always took time for his many fans. Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to his loving wife and family. Thank you Sam and Bobby for making our lives richer all those years with some great music and live entertainment.
C.C. San Jose, CA
I met Sam over 25 years ago, I remember when he was at The Lounge at Resorts In Atlantic City and when I finished my show, would go the the lounge and hang. He would bring me up on statge and we had many laughs.Those were the days, Sam, Freddie Bell, The Treniers. Some one should bring those days back.
He was the best, we will miss you Sam. RIP
I 'm a a founder of Rock and Roll Revue magazine
from France
http://bartemon.net/
The cover of n19 is a picture of Sam in action
And I'm a Butera's fan
RIP
Big Joe from Paris
I had the pleasure of being Sam's music director and an original member of the 'Wildest' band. He was an outstanding saxophonist, musician, singer and most of all ENTERTAINER. No one had, or has, his inert ability to play "for the people" and at the same time "blow away" the musicians in the audience. He was a true inspiration and friend. Loved you man!
Phil DiRe'
I met Sam through my Dad back when I was 12 and my dad was a follower of Louis Prima.
We had many a great times with Mr. Prima, Sam and the Witnesses through the years. Sam was the greatest Tenor Sax Player ever and in my heart, he will always be "playing pretty for the people"
You will be missed Sam!
Your friend and greatest fan
MaryAnn
I have been a massive fan of the great Sammy Butera for years. What an amazing performer and musician. Sammy has been a huge influence on my playing and with my group Dominic Halpin and the Honey B's we are trying to keep his influence alive in the UK. R.I.P. Sammy. You will be sorely missed. http://www.dominichalpin.com
Years ago, I saw Sam and the Witnesses with Keely Smith at the Desert Inn. It was a trip down Memory Lane for my mom. She and my dad used to see The Witnesses all the time ... in the old days. And I finally had my chance that night. I remember the joy on my mom's face. As for myself, I was so happy to EXPERIENCE it. It was a great night of entertainment. I've never forgotten it.
Sad to see another 'founder' of Las Vegas showmanship leave us.
Sorry to hear that!! Would like to know how Larry Gans died? Anybody know Yet?
Had the pleasure of knowing Sam through a mutual friend. He was, undoubtedly, one of the greatest all-time sax men in a world that has produced virtuosos. A marvelous entertaner whose keen sense of "show" kept it all going with or without his friend Louie (also a one-of-a-kind). Besides all that, Sam was a super gentleman with a big heart and respect for all. He had a wealth of stories from associations with the other greats of his day ranging from Marlene Dietrich to Lily Christine and many in between and beyond. His talent and humaness doesn't come along in that business very often and I feel privileged to have had him in my home and to have witnessed his performances several times in Las Vegas and Louisiana. He was one for the books! Keep blowin' Sam!
Sam - you will be greatly missed by those that knew you and your "happy music". "Keep on smilin', the whole world smiles with you . . ." Your friend, your fan, The Rainbow Chasers
I really needed some time before I posted...Sam's passing was devastating! I first met him at Resorts International in Atlantic City in 1982, where, after hearing me with the band I was gigging with at the time, he invited me to sit-in while I was there. It was one of the most amazing months of my life.....talk about Jazz Sax 101...! I had the pleasure of being his friend from that time onward. I remember all the great times I had jamming and hanging out with him and the band (especially my dear departed friend, his drummer, Chuck Stevens) whenever I was gigging in Las Vegas. He always made me feel welcome and that I was part of his family anytime I dropped in at the Sands or the Trop when he was playing. He was truly one of the all-time greats and I thank him every day for helping to make me the Saxman I am today! Miss ya, Sammy! -----Rick (SAX) Metz (www.RickMetz.com)
i met sam and louie and the rest of the band back in the middle 60's in lake tahoe..we were working at harvey's wagon wheel and would go across the street after our gig to listen to the best..every night..freddy bell taught me how to impersonate louie and jfk when we worked together at the old mapes hotel in reno that my dad managed..my band worked alot in chicago and did alot of their numbers,we did them well..in fact some of the boys in chicago would come see us on week ends in elk grove village to hear my sax man bobby do sams songs..bobby was and still is the next best thing to sam..God bless his soul..bobby loved Sams playing,how could one not..jay sarno booked me at his cabana hotels that he and marty melchor owned becasue we did alot of bobby darin,old blue eyes,and those 2 wildest men in show biz,Louis and Sam..jay wanted to handle me but i was stupid and turned him down..it was my dad..jay went on to do big things in vegas..all the great ones who built the city and played in the city are gone..makes one sad..as long as i play i keep louie and sam alive along with ole blue eyes and the other great who made vegas what it became..i still do the music but the new owners don't get it...God bless you Sam and your family...as i turn 70 in january i'm blessed..i still play after 51 years,i still play golf 5 days a week and iam old enough to have seen the greats LIVE...AMEN!!
Sam was the Great Sax player to ever live. Sam Butera and my Father were 1st cousins, and while growing up in New Orleans they had a ball confusing people with who they were, my dad was Vincent Salvadore Portera (His mother, my grandmother, was a Butera, sister of Joe Butera (Sam's dad)). He and Sam Butera would play pranks on teachers, friends and others because they looked so much alike. I miss hearing those stories, since now they both are gone and greatly missed.
RIP my dear Sam....I miss you.