....if you don't already have a slug of his vinyl :thmbsp:

I have "Pete Fountain's New Orleans" that came out on the Coral label in the 50's.
Great music and well recorded too. AFAIK, it's still available on compact disc.

He performed many times on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.

Amazing talent and Johnny really loved the guy.

Cheers, Snade

My mom's first cousin, great guy and a cool relative.

My mom's first cousin, great guy and a cool relative.

no kidding? way cool man!

Yep, Pete's Dad (Great Uncle Dewey) was my grandma's brother. Last time I talked to Pete, I him was at Grandma's funeral. He's every bit as cool in person as his playing is, live or recorded! I still can find his Coral recordings at thrifts and never pass them up. He recently had one of his "licorice sticks" that was lost in Katrina returned to him by a fellow down that way. That was neat and he was happy!!

I've been fortunate in life... living near the Crescent City has
allowed me to witness live performances over the years of some
of our Nations' icons, musically speaking.

Pete is clearly one of them. :yes:

http://channels.dal.net/45rpm/2007/images/798123coral.jpg

You come from good stock.

Great Uncle Dewey sounds like it should be the name of a charachter in "Oh Brother Where Art Tho?"
:p

Thanks! My daughter picked up the clarinet a last year, now she's first chair in her school band. She can't seem to put it down, similar to what grandma used to say about Pete. She is mildly asthmatic like Pete was at that age too.

Dewey was "a pistol" for sure! I remember when he was an icon at Bozo's years ago, opening oysters behind the bar and talking the whole time. I even recall the last 2 skiff's he had, the "Hell Yes" and the "Damn Right". He's been gone now for years, but the memories remain.

Fantastic history cruisaire, thank you for sharing! Sounds like great family fun in your parts :thmbsp: