Pete Fountain, New Orleans' clarinet-playing musical ambassador, dies at 86

NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune ^ | 8/6/16 | John Pope, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune

[BBell]

Pete Fountain, whose easygoing, apparently effortless style on the clarinet and his perpetually sunny disposition made him a natural ambassador for New Orleans, died Saturday in New Orleans. He was 86.

Other details were not available. Mr. Fountain, who was in hospice care, had been in poor health in recent years, suffering a stroke and undergoing heart surgery.

Unlike other musicians whose lives were marked by marital strife, substance abuse and run-ins with the law, Mr. Fountain lived a blissful existence with Beverly Fountain, his wife of 64 years, and a sizable number of children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

A regular on television, especially "The Lawrence Welk Show" in the 1950s and "The Tonight Show" when Johnny Carson was the host, Mr. Fountain had a club of his own on Bourbon Street and, later, in the New Orleans Hilton.

In addition to recording 50 albums and playing on 44 more, Mr. Fountain played "Just a Closer Walk With Thee" at the Mass that Pope John Paul II celebrated on the Lakefront in September 1987. After hearing Mr. Fountain, Al Hirt and Ronnie Kole perform, the pope was heard to say, "I have always heard about the beautiful music of New Orleans. Today I have been able to hear it and admire it personally."

[gigster]

Perhaps you saw Pete Fountain at Hart Plaza, next to Cobo Hall in downtown Detroit, where I grew up.

[stayathomemom]

It probably was. I grew up in Detroit also. Went to Redford High, Home of the Huskies.

[gigster]

Redford High- I have a friend here in Charlevoix that went to Redford High. I'm an east-sider, and attended Detroit Osborn (Knights) on 7 mile and Hoover.I guess the whole east side/west side thing will never be resolved. It's good to hear from someone from the 'hood.

[gigster]

...played on the level of Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw,... But, did he play on the same level as guitarists like Steve Howe, Martin Barre, Brian May, and Alex Lifeson of Rush? Listen to Lifeson play La Villa Strangiato. Let's throw in Jimi Hendricks while we're at it.

[Victor]

"...But, did he play on the same level as guitarists like Steve Howe, Martin Barre, Brian May, and Alex Lifeson of Rush?...."

Yes, of course...great artists are great artists, period. No matter the genre or music style, all of these people we're talking about had one thing in common: mastery of their instrument. That's the key.

[Victor]

It takes one to know one....

I am and still remain a playing and working musician (sax player)...I've been playing for 55 years

So sorry to hear of your travails.

[PallMal]

The thing I noticed is that his British counterpart, Aker Bilk, is about 2 years older than Pete, played jazz clarinet, died at age 85 (around the same age Pete), and was a spitting image of Pete Fountain, goatee and all.

Always got confused between the two.

[stayathomemom]

My grandparents lived on the east side. My mom grew up over there. Anything east of Woodward was in another world.

[gigster]

My grandparents lived on the east side. My mom grew up over there. My grandparents lived on Parkgrove, north of E. McNichols, off of Gratiot, and I lived three blocks north of Detroit City Airport, off of Gunston and Gratiot. And, anything east of Woodward was in another world. We rarely strayed west of Gratiot, cruising on it nearly every night. There was no good reason to go to the west side as we had all we wanted in the 'Pointes, East Detroit, Roseville , Mt. Clemens, and downtown Detroit. We used to go to Hart Plaza for the ethnic fesivals held there on the weekends all summer, not to mention Belle Isle, where we had our own Osborn party spot next to the Detroit Yacht Club.

[gigster]

I see you have a 42’ Silverton yacht, powered by twin diesels. that sounds nice. I am a marine mechanic and live here in Charlevoix, Mi. on northern Lake Michigan. My buddy has a 58’ Sea Ray 580 Sedan Bridge powered by twin 800 hp. Caterpillar Diesels. The lower level is done up in birds-eye maple which is spectacular. Quite the boat at 30+ knots on Lake Michigan.

[Victor]

That Sea Ray sounds beautiful. I love a lot of wood; something so missing on many modern boats.

My Silverton is powered by twin 480 hp Yanmar straight six diesels and the only word I have for them is *sweet*.

At 70% throttle she will cruise at around 22kt with 15gal/hour fuel burn. She's a slow sipper.

[gigster]

Your Silverton sounds very nice. Despite being a marine mechanic for over thirty years, I’ve never seen a Silverton or worked on Yanmar diesels. please do yourself a favor and research Charlevoix Michigan. It is truly a boater’s paradise and dream destination. My buddy who owns the Sea Ray 580 Sedan Bridge has a spectacular boathouse on Round Lake in the center of town. His boat well is 80 feet long. his next door neighbor, who originally built his house is selling his. Look up Charlevoix Round Lake boathouse to get an idea of what I’m talking about.

[BBell]

Defiantly a resemblance.

Seperated at birth you think?

[sargon]

Photos of Pete Fountain in his younger days remind me of the character "Nick Nightingale" from the movie Eyes Wide Shut...

[PallMal]

I tried to find photos of Bilk and Fountain together, even if they would have taken photos just for laughs. Couldn't find one.

I wonder if it was just a gentleman's agreement between the two to never meet together.