- Michael Ragosa

March 15, 2026

​

Performing at Casa Colombo in Jersey City was one of those moments I won't forget. The opening reception for 'Louis Prima: Rediscovering A Musical Icon' was packed, warm, and honestly — exactly what music is supposed to feel like.

​

I grew up in Jersey with Italian roots. Prima's music wasn't something I discovered, it was just always there. The swagger, the joy, the humor — the guy was one of a kind. So getting to sing that music inside an exhibition built entirely around his life, right here at home? That meant everything to me.

​

None of it happens without the people in my corner though. To my family and friends who came out and have supported me every step of the way — thank you. You show up, you believe in this, and I don't take that for granted for one second.

​

To Lisa Collodoro, Executive Director and Curator of the IECC at Casa Colombo, Chairman Patrick A. O'Boyle, Esq., Michael Toto, and the entire Board of Casa Colombo — thank you for opening your doors, hosting this exhibition, and making the whole day feel so special. The care and dedication you bring to that building and everything it stands for really shows.

​

To Anthony J. Sylvester, Trustee of the Gia Maione Prima Foundation — thank you for keeping Louis Prima's legacy alive and for making this show possible. The work the Foundation does is something special and it shows in everything surrounding this exhibition.

​

And to Marianna Gatto, Executive Director and Co-founder of the Italian American Museum of Los Angeles — thank you for bringing this to the East Coast and for building something that honors Prima the way he deserves. What you've created with the IAMLA is extraordinary.

​

Vanessa Racci — I have to say, sharing that stage with you made the whole afternoon something else entirely. There's a real chemistry when two people are genuinely feeling the music, and that's exactly what Sunday was. You brought so much warmth and talent to every moment and it made me better up there. Grateful we got to do this together.

​

And to everyone who came out — seriously, thank you. You made the room.

If you haven't seen the exhibition yet, please go. 'Louis Prima: Rediscovering A Musical Icon' is running at the IECC at Casa Colombo in Jersey City through August 15th, 2026. It covers his whole story — his roots, his rise, his role in putting Las Vegas on the map, and his legacy as a proudly Italian American performer at a time when that took real courage. Personal effects, rare photos, memorabilia — it's all there. Whether you grew up with "Sing, Sing, Sing" or you're hearing his name for the first time, you'll leave a believer.

Open Wednesdays & Thursdays 10am–3pm, Saturdays 1pm–4pm, and by appointment on weekends. Don't sleep on it.

​

Grazie. 🎶

​