What happened to Pete Fountain?
Pete Fountain, a clarinetist who brought the traditional jazz of his native New Orleans to a national audience through frequent appearances on the Lawrence Welk and Johnny Carson television shows, died on Saturday in New Orleans.
What is Pete Fountain's real name?
Pete Fountain. Pierre Dewey LaFontaine Jr. (July 3, 1930 – August 6, 2016), known professionally as Pete Fountain, was an American jazz clarinetist.
Where did Pete Fountain own his club in New Orleans?
Fountain returned to New Orleans, played with the Dukes of Dixieland, then began leading bands under his own name. He owned his own club in the French Quarter in the 1960s and 1970s. He later acquired "Pete Fountain's Jazz Club" at the Riverside Hilton in downtown New Orleans. The New Orleans Jazz Club presented "Pete...
What happened to Frank fountain's wife?
Fountain married Beverly Lang on October 27, 1951; they remained married for sixty-five years until his death. They have two sons and a daughter: Kevin, Jeffrey, and Dahra. [12] Dahra's husband, Benny Harrell, was Fountain's manager in his later years. Fountain died of heart failure in his home town on August 6, 2016, at the age of eighty-six.
When did Fountain join the Dixieland Band?
Fountain and his teenage friends formed the Junior Dixieland Band in 1948 and won an amateur talent contest. A year later he joined the drummer Phil Zito’s popular band, with which he made his recording debut. There followed a series of short-term associations, all with top players of the day and often marked by recordings, their performances focused on Bourbon Street’s clubs.
Why did the youngster adopt the clarinet at the age of nine?
The youngster adopted the clarinet at the age of nine on doctor’s advice as an aid to overcoming a respiratory ailment. Evidently the cure worked, for he was sitting in around Bourbon Street with professional musicians from the age of 13.
Who is Pete Fountain?
Pete Fountain, a clarinetist who brought the traditional jazz of his native New Orleans to a national audience through frequent appearances on the Lawrence Welk and Johnny Carson television shows, died on Saturday in New Orleans. He was 86.
Who was the trumpeter in the Basin Street Six?
In 1950, after some local success as a sideman, Mr. Fountain formed his own band, the Basin Street Six, with the trumpeter George Girard. “We clowned around a lot with that group,” he recalled, “but most of the time we played good music.”
What happened to Pete Fountain?
It's hard to believe the legend of Pete Fountain happened almost by accident. When he was a child, Pete was sickly and had weak lungs. A doctor recommended he start playing musical instruments -- anything he had to blow into.
Who is Pete Fountain?
Born July 3, 1930, Pierre Dewey LaFontaine Jr. was the man better known as Pete Fountain. He was one of the greatest ambassadors the city of New Orleans ever had. He was one of the most successful clarinetists in music history. Some stars are loud and boisterous, others are quiet and methodical.
How many times did Pete perform on the Tonight Show?
Pete went on to appear on the "Tonight Show" nearly 60 times. He performed at the White House four times. He entertained Pope John Paul II at the New Orleans Papal Mass in 1987. He also performed at the halftime of two Super Bowls at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in 1978 and 1990.
What was Pete's nickname for Frank Sinatra?
Pete later played with the Dukes of Dixieland and then in the 1960s and '70s, he owned his own club on Bourbon Street, which quickly attracted major entertainers like "Ol' Blue Eyes," the popular nickname for Frank Sinatra.
When did Pete start playing the clarinet?
Pete started playing the clarinet around the age of 9 and over time, his lung health improved. The rest is musical history.
When did Pete go back to Hollywood Casino?
Pete was back to help reopen Hollywood Casino in April 2014.
Who was Pete Fountain's son in law?
Benny Harrell, Pete Fountain’s son-in-law and longtime manager said.Born July 3, 1930, Pierre Dewey LaFontaine Jr. was the man better known as Pete Fountain. He was one of the greatest ambassadors the city of New Orleans ever had. He was one of the most successful clarinetists in music history.Some stars are loud and boisterous, ...