Lou Sino (August 16, 1930 – July 30, 1986) was a New Orleans trombonist and singer who came to prominence as a member of Louis Prima's backing band The Witnesses, led by Sam Butera. He also released a number of his own recordings with his band The Bengals.

Background Louis Marcel Scioneaux was born to parents Eyere and Florence Scioneaux in Algiers, Louisiana, on August 16, 1930. He was the second born of six children. He went to Behrman High School and played in the high school band there. From the age of 13, he had been playing trombone and guitar.

He was married to wife Patricia for 33 years and with her he raised five children.Westbank Musicians Hall of Fame, Inc. Louis Marcel Scioneaux a/k/a Lou Sino

Career

1940s to 1967 By the age of 17, he was playing at the Famous Door. In 1956, Sino was in New Orleans, playing with musicians such as Dick Allen, trumpeter Stuart Bergen, banjo player, Tom Brown, and tenor saxophonist Francis A. Murray.Howard-Tilton Memorial Library Hogan Jazz Archive Photography Collection, Sino, Lou (Louis M. Scioneaux)

In 1957, he joined Louis Prima's group. To make Lou's surname easier to pronounce, Prima shortened the name from Scioneaux to Sino. While a member of Prima's band, he was described as the rubber-faced trombonist, and in a Billboard article as looking like an ultra-conservative bank clerk.

Sino was also a member of The Witnesses that backed In a review of the Big Horn album by Sam Butera & The Witnesses that appeared in the October 20, 1958, edition of Billboard, Sino's trombone playing was noted on the tracks, "La Vie En Rose", "Hey There", and "Three Coins In The Fountain"

In 1959, according to Down Beat magazine, the line-up of Prima's band was Sino (referred to there as Scioneaux) on trombone, Bobby Roberts on guitar, John Nagy on piano, Rolly De Orio on bass, and Paul Ferrara on drums.Downbeat 75th Anniversary Collectors Edition Page 110 The Archives, Backstage With Louis Prima and Keely Smith February 19, 1959 He stayed with Prima's group until 1967 which marked ten years with them.

In 1967, Sino was again a member of The Witnesses, in a line up that included Sam Butera on vocals and tenor sax, Bobby Setzler on guitar, John Nagy on piano, Jimmy Vincent on drums, Rolly Dee on vocal and string bass, and Morgan Thomas on alto sax, valve trombone and flute.The Italian Crooners Bedside Companion, By Richard Grudens Page 50

1968 onwards By 1970, Sino was fronting his group, Lou Sino and the Bengals. Their signature song was "Tiger Rag". In November 1970, along with the Ronnioe Cole Trio, Maxine Sullivan and Eubie Blake, Sino and his group, Lou Sino and the Bengals played at a concert in honor of W.C. Handy in Muscle Shoals. Sino and his band the Bengals were a popular host band in New Orleans. They played the Crossroads Convention in 1976.The Rotarian, Aug 1976 Page 22

Sino's last years were spent playing with the Bengals, playing in the French Quarter of New Orleans. he played at venues such as the playing at the Mason Bourbon and at the Economy Hall in the Royal Sonesta Hotel up until 1986 which is when he died.

Recordings

Solo and as bandleader Albums Lou Sino - Now - Bengal Records LS-110973 - 1973Discogs Lou Sino – Now Lou Sino - a Jazzman Comes Home - L.S.I. LPS-145Discogs Lou Sino – A Jazzman Comes Home Lou Sino And The Bengals - Hold That Tiger - Maison Bourbon Records – MB-11WorldCat Hold that tiger, By Lou Sino; Bengals (Musical group) Lou Sino with Rene Netto and the Bengals - Give Me that Old and New Time Religion - Harvey, LA : L.S.I. - (unknown year)WorldCat Lou Sino : Give me that old and new time religion with Rene Netto and The Bengals. Singles Lou Sino - "She's Got To Be A Saint" / "Tie A Yellow Ribbon Around The Ole Oak Tree" - Bengal 112873

In groups Sam Butera & The Witnesses - The Big Horn - Capitol T 1098 - 1958 Louis Prima and Keely Smith with Sam Butera and the Witnesses - Capitol Records – T1010 - 1958Discogs Louis Prima And Keely Smith* With Sam Butera And The Witnesses – Las Vegas Prima Style Sam Butera And The Witnesses - Louis Prima Presents The Wildest Clan - Dot Records DLP 3272 - 1960Discogs Sam Butera And The Witnesses – Louis Prima Presents The Wildest Clan Louis Prima with Gia Maione and Sam Butera and the Witnesses – The King Of ClubsAll Music Louis Prima, The King of Clubs , Credits - Prima Magnagroove PS 3003 Louis Prima with Sam Butera and the Witnesses - Strictly Prima! - Capitol Records – 1566231 - 1985Discogs Louis Prima With Sam Butera And The Witnesses – Strictly Prima! Louis Prima - Capitol Collectors Series - Capitol Records – CDP 7 94072 2 - (CD)Louis Prima – Capitol Collectors Series, Discogs. Louis Prima & Keely Smith with Sam Butera and the Witnesses - Jasmine Records JASCD 331 - 1994 (CD)Discogs Louis Prima & Keely Smith With Sam Butera And The Witnesses – On Stage

Backing Sammy Davis Jr. Meets Sam Butera & The Witnesses - When the Feeling Hits You! - Reprise RS 6144 - 1965Discogs Sammy Davis* Meets Sam Butera & The Witnesses* – When The Feeling Hits You (as a member of The Witnesses)

Presenting Rene Netto - Lou Sino Presents The Sounds of Rene Netto - L.S.I LPS-144 (Note: some versions of the album have L.S.I. Presents the Sounds of Rene Netto)

References