International music legend, Pete Fountain dies at age 86

By Geraldine Wyckoff
Contributing Writer

“I call my music swingin’ Dixie,” said a smiling Pete Fountain during a 1998 interview. “The atmosphere of New Orleans – the Carnival atmosphere, the jazz, the swing, the parades, the second line parades, the funerals, the Buzzards – lends to my music.” Considering the world-renowned clarinetist’s obviously deep love of his hometown of New Orleans, it’s no wonder that he was deemed highly qualified to be considered an ambassador of the Crescent City. Pete Fountain, an iconic New Orleans musician and spirited personality, died on August 6, 2016 at the age of 86.

Born Pierre Dewey LaFontaine Jr., Fountain had “weak lungs” as a youngster so his parents were encouraged by a doctor to have their son take up a wind instrument to improve his health. Little did anyone know at the time that this advice would someday lead him to international fame.

PETE FOUNTAIN

Living in New Orleans meant, of course, that as a kid, Fountain was surrounded by music. He admired the brass bands he’d hear going by his door and the sounds coming from the nearby Top Hat club. Fountain enjoyed listening to recordings of his favorites like New Orleans clarinetists George Lewis, Irving Fazola and Raymond Burke and naturally others too, particularly Benny Goodman.

“I’m glad that I did (that) because I didn’t copy one particular clarinet player. I put those four together and came up with a sound,” he once explained.

In his teens, Fountain was already playing clubs in the French Quarter. He described the experience as going directly from high school to “The Conservatory of Bourbon Street” and learning as he played. When he was 20, he formed the Basin Street Six and then headed to Chicago in 1954 to join the Dukes of Dixieland. He soon returned home to team up with trumpeter Al Hirt and gigged at Dan Levy’s Pier 606. That’s where someone from bandleader/accordionist Lawrence Welk’s band discovered Fountain and invited him to Los Angeles to play with Welk, who hosted a popular television show.

It was with the notably straight-laced Welk, an unlikely pairing to say the least, that Fountain gained national recognition particularly by being featured each week as the leader of the Dixieland Combo. The clarinetist and fellow, musically like-minded band members would step out of the orchestra to play some New Orleans-style jazz.

“I went with Welk for two years,” Fountain once said and then laughed adding, “It kept me sober and damn near killed me.” (One of Fountain’s oft-repeated quotes on working with Welk was that champagne – Welk’s set featured a bubble machine – and bourbon – Fountain’s drink of choice – didn’t mix well.) “That two years started my career,” the clarinetist continued. “It gave me the push. When I came home {to New Orleans}, I realized what had happened. I opened up a club (The Old La Lune Club at 800 Bourbon Street) and started filling it every night. I just couldn’t believe it.”

Fountain eventually moved up the street to 231 Bourbon – Pete’s Place – and stayed their for six years before crossing Canal Street in 1977 and opening his own nightspot, the Pete Fountain Club, at the New Orleans Hilton Riverside.

Pete Fountain released over 90 albums with three gaining gold status. His single of the traditional hymn, “Just a Closer Walk with Thee,” also went gold and became his signature song. Fountain led his band at the first Jazz Festival held in Congo Square and performed at the Fest each year. His final performance in the event’s Economy Hall Tent was in 2013.

Because New Orleans is New Orleans, the famous clarinetist might be equally celebrated by many locals for his for his cleverly-named Half Fast Walking Club. The members of the group, formed in 1960, would meet at Commander’s Palace early in the morning on Carnival Day for their first drink of many they would imbibe on the club’s, music- and fun-filled stroll – not march – to the French Quarter. Folks would feel lucky if they caught sight of Fountain and his band of revelers.

Always up for a laugh, Fountain even made a joke about his final demise during that 1998 interview. “Here’s my epitaph: Here lies Pete with his dancin’ feet, who lived to love and loved to eat.”

Funeral services will be held for Pete Fountain on Wednesday, August 17, 2016 at St. Louis Cathedral. Visitation is from 9 am to 11:30 am followed by 30 minutes of remembrances with a mass starting at noon. There will be a second line in Fountain’s honor following the mass. It will travel to the Hotel Monteleone, the same destination as his beloved Half Fast Walking Club enjoyed for over 50 years each Mardi Gras Day.

This article originally published in the August 15, 2016 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.