Pete Fountain Taking His Place in Hall of Fame - News

Pete Fountain taking his place in Hall of Fame
Induction today to mark long career

Saturday, April 05, 2008 By Ed Anderson

BATON ROUGE -- New Orleans clarinetist Pete Fountain, whose Mississippi Gulf Coast home and memorabilia were decimated by Hurricane Katrina, will be inducted into the Delta Music Museum's Hall of Fame in Ferriday today.

Fountain, 77, will be honored during ceremonies at the 7th annual Delta Music Festival, an event hosted by the secretary of state's office, which operates the museum.

Office spokesman Jacques Berry said although the hall of fame was originally designed to honor the blues greats of the Louisiana and Mississippi Delta, it has broadened its scope to honor figures like singer Irma Thomas and the late Clarence "Frogman" Henry, who are well-known for their careers in New Orleans rock 'n' roll .

Fountain will be honored "for the contributions he has made" to music in general, Berry said. Fountain started out in 1950 in the Basin Street Six, a group he helped form in New Orleans, and carved a national reputation on the Lawrence Welk television show as a featured performer. He later opened a jazz club at the Riverside Hilton in New Orleans. After the club closed, he performed two nights a week at a Gulf Coast casino.

He was a founder of the Half-Fast Marching Club that parades through the French Quarter at Mardi Gras each year.

Fountain will be honored with a star on the museum's "Walk of Fame" sidewalk. Berry said a permanent exhibit featuring memorabilia, records and album jackets from Fountain's career will be included in the exhibit.

The induction will highlight a daylong festival of music from around the state, arts and crafts, and games near the museum. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The museum also features interactive music kiosks and mannequins of music stars, Berry said.

Reprint courtesy of Ed Anderson, writer, The Times-Picayune April 5, 2008

Pete Fountain's Place New Orleans - Memorabilia

Pete Fountain's Place Postcard

Pete Fountain's Place New Orleans LA

circa 1966 Postcard

Liner Notes:

Pete Fountain's French Quarter Inn 800 Bourbon Street New Orleans, Louisiana
Where many of the world-famous Pete Fountain Clarinet recordings originate.

Pete Fountain and The New Orleans All Stars - Pickwick Records

Pete Fountain and The New Orleans All Stars

1962 Pickwick La Nouvelle Generation NG-1718

Side One:
1. South Rampart Street Parade (Pete Fountain)
2. Sensation Rag (Pete Fountain)
3. Sunset in Paradise (New Orleans All Stars)
4. In the Shade of the Old Apple Tree (New Orleans All Stars)
5. Bayou Blues (New Orleans All Stars)

Side Two:
1. Jazz Me Blues (Pete Fountain)
2. Bugle Call Rag (Pete Fountain)
3. St. James Infirmary (New Orleans All Stars)
4. When the Saints Go Marching In (New Orleans All Stars)

Liner Notes:

A Canadian budget-label collection split between Dixieland legend Pete Fountain and the New Orleans All Stars featuring Pete Fountain. Side one features a live track from Fountain.

Pete Fountain vs.Al Hirt Battle Royal - Trolley Car Records

Pete Fountain vs. Al Hirt

Battle Royal

1972 Trolley Car Records TC 5012

Side A:
1. South Rampart Street Parade (Live)
2. Bugle Call Rag (Live)
3. Sensation Rag (Live)
4. That's A Plenty
5. Basin Street Blues

Side B:
1. Stormy Weather
2. Pitter Patter
3. Whipped Cream (special guest) Louis Armstrong
4. Tiger Rag
5. Sweet Georgia Brown

Liner Notes:

This record is the same as "Bourbon Street Pete Fountain - Al Hirt" and has the same catalog number and back cover as the other LP by Trolley Car Records. Both versions are hard to find, this version more difficult to find. It has the same 5 tracks by Pete Fountain, 5 by Al Hirt, Louis Armstrong appears on one track. Not sure the story behind the two covers or the actual release year. I did some research and narrowed it down the best I could. Mixture of live and studio music. The recordings are from the early part of Pete's career.

Al Hirt - Pete Fountain Bourbon Street - Trolley Car Records

Bourbon Street

Al Hirt - Pete Fountain

1972 Trolley Car Records TC 5012

Side A:
1. South Rampart Street Parade (Live)
2. Bugle Call Rag (Live)
3. Sensation Rag (Live)
4. That's A Plenty
5. Basin Street Blues

Side B:
1. Stormy Weather
2. Pitter Patter
3. Whipped Cream (special guest) Louis Armstrong
4. Tiger Rag
5. Sweet Georgia Brown

Liner Notes:

The title of this LP is "Bourbon Street" on the cover, the back cover and actual record is "Battle Royal" and has the same catalog number as the record "Battle Royal Pete Fountain vs Al Hirt" by Trolley Car Records. Both versions are hard to find. It has 5 tracks by Pete Fountain, 5 by Al Hirt, Louis Armstrong appears on one track. Mixture of live and studio music. The recordings are from the early part of Pete's career.

Pete Fountain to be inducted into Delta Music Hall of Fame - News

Pete Fountain to be inducted into Delta Music Hall of Fame in Ferriday

Courtesy of the Concordia Sentinel Newspaper Feb.21, 2008

New Orleans jazzman Pete Fountain will be inducted into the Delta Music Hall of Fame on April 5th in Ferriday during the annual Delta Music Festival.

"We just received word this past weekend," said museum director Judith Bingham. "We're very excited about it. We're working out all the details now." Bingham also noted that the new Arcade Theater is near completion. "They put in the theater lights and are putting in the sound," Bingham said. "Everything is really looking good inside and the stage is completed with a huge wooden floor." Bingham said Arcade will be dedicated during the festival and a ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held prior to the event.

Born July 3, 1930 in New Orleans, Fountain performed with several bands during his career, including Junior Dixieland Band in the famous Parisian Room. A few years later, Fountain joined Phil Zito's International Dixieland Express. In 1957, Fountain appeared on the Lawrence Welk Show and became a household name.

After two years in California, Fountain came home to New Orleans. He opened his own jazz club in the heart of the French Quarter. His national fame and fans followed him to New Orleans which allowed Fountain's club to expand, through the past 38 years, into the largest jazz club in the city.

Fountain has performed at four U.S. State Dinners by command performance for four Presidents of the United States. He has also performed for Pope John Paul II at the New Orleans Papal Mass with an attendance of over 400,000 people.

He has recorded over 90 albums. Three of Fountain's albums have gone gold, "Pete Fountain's New Orleans," "The Blues," and "Mr. New Orleans." He also received a gold record for his hit single "Just A Closer Walk With Thee."

Sharkey and His Kings Of Dixieland - Arcadia Records

Sharkey and His Kings Of Dixieland
Featuring Pete Fountain

1955 Arcadia Records 108 (Mono only) 7" 45 Rpm

Side A
1. Baby, Baby (Margie O'Dair - Vocals)

Side B
1. O' Mabel Where Can You Be (Texas Slim - Vocals

Liner Notes:

Sharkey and His Kings Of Dixieland

Personnel:
Margie O'Dair - Vocals
Texas Slim - Vocals
Sharkey Bonano - Trumpet
Pete Fountain - Clarinet and Tenor Saxophone
Armand Hug - Piano
Jack Delaney - Trombone
Dan LeBlanc - Bass
Paul Ferrara - Drums

Early Pete Fountain with Sharkey's Dixieland Band. Pete played off and on with Sharkey's band. In the 1950's, Sharkey's band constantly changed musicians, depending who was available.

The other 45 they did together on Arcadia #107 with "Abbeville Our Abbeville" as the featured song. If you know of any other Arcadia records, or if a 12" or 10" records was ever released on Arcadia, please e-mail me.

Sharkey and His Kings Of Dixieland - Arcadia Records

Sharkey and His Kings Of Dixieland
Featuring Pete Fountain1955 Arcadia Records 107 (Mono only) 7" 45 Rpm

Side A
1. Abbeville Our Abbeville (Sharkey Bonano - Vocals)

Side B
1. I Didn't Know Then, Like I Don't Know You Now (Art Petivan - Vocals)

Liner Notes:

Sharkey and His Kings Of Dixieland

Personnel:
Art Petivan - Vocals
Sharkey Bonano - Trumpet and Vocals
Pete Fountain - Clarinet and Tenor Saxophone
Armand Hug - Piano
Jack Delaney - Trombone
Dan LeBlanc - Bass
Paul Ferrara - Drums

Early Pete Fountain with Sharkey's Dixieland Band. Pete played off and on with Sharkey's band. In the 1950's, Sharkey's band constantly changed musicians. I've post some of Sharkey's Southland records already, and will post a few more of interest. The other 45 they did together on Arcadia is the 45 RPM Arcadia Records #108 with "Baby, Baby" as the featured song. (Which I will post soon) If you know of any other Arcadia records, or if a 12" or 10" records was ever released on Arcadia, please e-mail me.

Jazz At The Philharmonic - Karusell Records

Jazz At The Philharmonic

Santo Pecora And His Dixie Land Jazz Band

featuring Pete Fountain

1950 Karusell Records KEP-242 Monoual

Side A
1. Canal Street Romp
2. Rose Of The Rio Grande

Side B
1. Twelfth Street Rag
2. Basin Street Blues

Liner Notes:

Santo Pecora And His Dixie Land Jazz Band

45 Rpm Extended Play
Supervised By Norman Granz

George Girard, trumpet
Santo Pecora, trombone
Pete Fountain, clarinet
Fred Laudeman, piano
Lou Massenter, bass
Eddie Grady, drums
Recorded in New Orleans, LA, 1950

Cover design by David Stone Martin

Santo Pecora, who was playing trombone with Sharkey Bonano's band on Bourbon Street made and released several sides, all of them featuring his tremendous, driving trombone. A young 20 year old Pete Fountain is heard here, with George Girard. This release came from Europe and was previously released in the U.S. by Santo Pecora and Norman Granz on Clef Records EP-117 in 1950.

Pete Fountain - Yes Indeed - Coral Records

Yes Indeed

1962 Coral Records EC 81190 7" EP

Side 1:
1. Sing You Sinners
2. Yes Indeed

Side 2:
1. Dis Ol' Train
2. Nobody Knows The Trouble I've Seen

Liner Notes:

Pete Fountain With The Jubilee Singers And Orchestra
Directed By Charles Bud Dant

Personnel:
Pete Fountain: clarinet
Stanley Wrightsman: piano
Godfrey Hirsch: vibes
Morty Corb: bass
Jack Sperling: drums
Dick Cathcart: trumpet
Bobby Gibbons: guitar
Plas Johnson: tenor saxophone

The recordings here, which come from the Coral LP Swing Low Sweet Clarinet is a completely new experience in New Orleans Jazz. Through the magic that is Pete Fountain devout disciples of the traditional idiom born in the heart of Crescent City, will discover an excitingly new component with jazz. Production wise this album is different - a new departure among the usual tune anthologies under a single cover. Yet, amazingly enough, here is tradition somehow overlooked until now in the combined use of little band jazz with Jubilee Singers.

Site One:
No. 1: SING YOU SINNERS (Instrumental- Pete with Quintet)

Sperling establishes the opening pace as an introduction into a medium tempo with Pete's clarinet leading the group. Godfrey Hirsch embellishes the background with vibe figures. On the chorus Pete and Godfrey divide solos backed by strong rhythm. The device of a string bass and guitar stop-chorus by Morty Corb and Bobby Gibbons provides an exceptional taste contrast. Closing out, the technical artistry of Jack points up a fast following ensemble finish.

No. 2: YES INDEED (Jubilee Singers with Rhythm Section)

The fourteen voice choir - eight men and six girls, work with the small band on this Ray Charles number. Pete has a short cadenza that gets it jumping in a spirited mood. The choir answers Pete with the title words while the rhythm section drives on in the background. String bass and guitar take over a chorus dividing the honors; then the first driving chorus repeats. The Fountain clarinet is the emphatic force. There is a uniquely stated ending - very exceptional. A single of this title would be a smash hit!

Side Two:
No. 1: DIS OL' TRAIN (Fountain) (Singers with Rhythm Section)

The Pete Fountain rhythm section and the Jubilee Singers open this side with some well adapted vocal effects that quicklyget the train rolling out fast. Pete and Jack Sperling open the throttle with some well paced clarineting and drum work that make for a decidedly happy trip. The clarinet justifiably pre-dominates throughout. Use of dynamics, particularly with an exciting by-play drum break and application of chords ranging to a very soft closing, also diminishes the tempo speed to a slow, sustained ending.

No. 2: NOBODY KNOWS (Singers with Rhythm Section)

The intro is highlighted by Pete augmenting the Jubilee voices which sustain until the easy-riding tempo is set. Fountain's low register use with the singers provides a remarkably well balanced effect. Particularly outstanding in the happy mood of the chorus is soprano Gwen Johnson, who with the other Jubilees finds exceptional background blending by the rhythm section. The strong beat leads to interplay between Pete's clarinet and vocalist. The ending, as in the beginning. ritards.

There can be no doubt over the ultimate destiny of this album. The combined use of Jubilee Singers with Pete Fountain and his groups becomes a satisfying musical experience. It is fitting that this first album usage of the vocalists and musicians be in the traditional vein. Certainly, there has been no recorded similarity in this specific age with such outstanding success. This cannot be considered in the light of an experiment, for singing of this happy, exuberant type of music is as old as early jazz expression in New Orleans.