R.I.P Pete Fountain, 1930-2016 Master of the licorice stick

[solo1]

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjZ1-S3u63OAhUF9IMKHTkbBHUQtwIIJDAB&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D3BP-NGFooJU&usg=AFQjCNEsfksXSxOn40Z_t4LvGJ5SblWKNw

[LTD]

Man that hurts. Al Hirt in 1999 now finally Pete you cant think of one without the other.  New Orleans will miss you.

[DK]

I first watched him on Lawrence Welk as a child and later every time I was in N.O. when he was playing.

The first L.P. album I ever bought was a Fountain & Hurt "Dukes of Dixieland".

He seemed to be a genuinely nice guy. I'll miss him.

[John Schmidt]

Wayne, the passing of a master, no question. Rita and I have spent New Year's Eve in New Orleans a couple times. That is the place to be for sure, but be careful. As we were strolling down Bourbon St. in the wee hours, I heard this fantastic trumpet and clarinet playing together. We stopped and chatted with the bouncer, he told us it was Al Hirt and Pete Fountain jamming together, Pete was using someone's clarinet from the band, was actually a guest at the party.  He let us stick our heads in the door but couldn't go in since it was private that night. Wish I would have had something to record it but back then cell phones weren't as advanced as today. I'll never forget it though, was just a small dive that opened right onto the street.

Many years ago I played the clarinet, a few years later I used to date a sister of a good HS  buddy of mine and she teased me about what a good kisser I was. So I jokingly told her it was because I used to play the clarinet. She was a beautiful girl but went away to an academy in Kansas in 1954 and I never saw her again. I stay in touch with her brother and he gave me her number a few months ago although I didn't call it. She, however, did call me and we chatted for quite some time. Then she teased me again about being a good kisser....after more than 60 years. What a memory, what an impression I must have made. I then told her I didn't remember ever kissing her....her answer: "well, thanks a lot."  

[solo1]

John, I have a number of cd's of Pete Fountain's. I have no idea how any one could get that kind of music from a clarinet. Benny Goodman was in a different class, different type of music, I think.

I won't make a comment on the 'kissin' business.  Maybe over a scotch and soda sometime but not here.
I don't want to upset the young'uns. on the VRCC.

[John Schmidt]

   That's OK, it has become sort of an inside joke between me and her brother. It just blew me away when she mentioned it some 60 yrs. later. 

[solo1]