ElmerJFudd Posted August 6, 2016 Share Posted August 6, 2016 http://yahoonewsdigest-us.tumblr.com/148555532209 Clarinetist Pete Fountain, New Orleans jazz legend, dies at 86 Clarinetist Pete Fountain, whose Dixieland jazz virtuosity and irrepressible wit endeared him to his native New Orleans and earned him decades of national television fame, died Saturday of heart failure. He was 86. Benny Harrell, Fountains son-in-law and manager, said Fountain was in hospice care in New Orleans when he died early Saturday. With his ready wit and infectious laugh, Fountain was the epitome of the happy New Orleanian who knew how to let the good times roll. Fountain gained fame as a featured player on The Lawrence Welk Show in the 1950s and made dozens of appearances on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. Fountain later opened his own jazz club on Bourbon Street in New Orleans and over the years performed for four presidents and a pope. Funeral arrangements were pending, with a Mass being planned for St. Louis Cathedral in the French Quarter. Well have a big jazz funeral after his Mass. Benny Harrell With his ready wit and infectious laugh, Fountain was the epitome of the happy New Orleanian who knew how to let the good times roll. Even his blues had a happy note. In a city dedicated to tradition, Fountains annual trek through the French Quarter with his Half-Fast Walking Club was a raucous New Orleans ritual one he rarely missed even when he was in failing health. Fountain was born Pierre Dewey La Fountaine Jr. in New Orleans in 1930 and began playing the clarinet as a way of fighting chronic respiratory problems. By the time he was a teenager, he was already performing in the citys clubs as a professional musician. He appeared as a recording artist on more than 100 albums. Yamaha CP88, Casio PX-560 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hurricane hugo Posted August 6, 2016 Share Posted August 6, 2016 that had better be one monster sendoff! RIP, Pete. http://blip.fm/invite/WorkRelease Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElmerJFudd Posted August 6, 2016 Author Share Posted August 6, 2016 [video:youtube] Yamaha CP88, Casio PX-560 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lindaru Posted August 6, 2016 Share Posted August 6, 2016 Wow . . . I remember my parents really liked him when I was young. RIP, Pete! You will have to lead that "half fast walking club" around the other side. You will get plenty joining in, I am sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HammondDave Posted August 6, 2016 Share Posted August 6, 2016 The man who turned me on to jazz... My first instrument was the clarinet, because of him... Huge loss. '55 and '59 B3's; Leslies 147, 122, 21H; MODX 7+; NUMA Piano X 88; Motif XS7; Mellotrons M300 and M400’s; Wurlitzer 206; Gibson G101; Vox Continental; Mojo 61; Launchkey 88 Mk III; Korg Module; B3X; Model D6; Moog Model D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Nightime Posted August 7, 2016 Share Posted August 7, 2016 Pete was one of my Dad's favorites. RIP Pete "In the beginning, Adam had the blues, 'cause he was lonesome. So God helped him and created woman. Now everybody's got the blues." Willie Dixon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Williams Posted August 7, 2016 Share Posted August 7, 2016 I got to visit his club during a symposium in the mid-'80s. We were packed in the room like sardines, three or four folks around tables that were no more than 24" diameter. None of us minded a bit. At the time I thought he was doing great for someone "so old." I am older now than he was then.... -Tom Williams {First Name} {at} AirNetworking {dot} com PC4-7, PX-5S, AX-Edge, PC361 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElmerJFudd Posted August 7, 2016 Author Share Posted August 7, 2016 Pete was one of my Dad's favorites. RIP Pete My pop too. Yamaha CP88, Casio PX-560 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoodyBluesKeys Posted August 7, 2016 Share Posted August 7, 2016 RIP Pete, Benny Goodman was my first favorite (when I started playing clarinet), but Pete became a favorite. Not only the virtuosity, but also the attitude. Howard Grand|Hamm SK1-73|Kurz PC2|PC2X|PC3|PC3X|PC361; QSC K10's HP DAW|Epi Les Paul & LP 5-str bass|iPad mini2 "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Schmieder Posted August 7, 2016 Share Posted August 7, 2016 Oh man, he was one of my inspirations when I first started playing jazz clarinet. Eugenio Upright, 60th Anniversary P-Bass, USA Geddy Lee J-Bass, Yamaha BBP35, D'angelico SS Bari, EXL1, Select Strat, 70th Anniversary Esquire, LP 57, Eastman T486, T64, Ibanez PM2, Hammond XK4, Moog Voyager Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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