Pete Fountain
Pierre Dewey LaFontaine, Jr. AKA Pete Fountain (born July 3, 1930) is an American Clarinetist based in New Orleans, LA. He is well revered and loved for his jazz, Dixieland & Creole music.
Early Years
Pete was a sickly child constantly battling respiratory infections due to weakened lungs. His father was in the pharmacy buying expensive medicine & started a discussion about his son’s health with a neighborhood doctor. The doctor recommended an unusual remedy for Pete’s condition. He suggested that he buy an instrument that required his son to blow. At the music store, Pete originally wanted the drums, but his father chose to follow the doctor’s orders, so Pete decided on a clarinet. It was difficult at first foe Pete to produce any sound, but with continued practice he eventually made music and his lungs greatly improved.
Lawrence Welk Orchestra
Four years after the band broke up, Fountain was hired to join the Lawrence Welk Orchestra where he was recognized for his many solos on the ABC television show, The Lawrence Welk Show. The rumor is that Fountain left the show when Welk would not let him “jazz up” a Christmas carol. In an interview, Fountain said he left the show because “…champagne and bourbon don’t mix.”
Return to New Orleans
Fountain returned to New Orleans and played with The Dukes of Dixieland & then started leading bands under his own name. He acquired the “Peter Fountain’s Jazz Club” at the Riverside Hilton in downtown New Orleans. The New Orleans Jazz Club presented “Pete Fountain Day” on October 19, 1959 with a celebration honoring the musician as the pride of their city & they played to a packed house. His band was made up of his studio recording musicians, Stan Kenton’s bassist Don Bagley, vibeist Godfrey Hirsch, pianist Merle Kock, and double bass drummer Jack Sperling. Fountain brought many of these same musicians together to play the Hollywood Bowl. He made many trips to Hollywood and appeared on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carlson 56 times.
Fountain also ran his own French Quarter club, the French Quarter Inn at 800 Bourbon Street, in the 60s & 70s. His group members were Oliver “Stick” Feliz on bass, John Probst on piano, Paul Guma on guitar, Godfrey Hirsch on vibes, and Jack Sperling on drums. Over the years, several famous entertainers found their way to the French Quarter Inn. Jonathan Winters and Cliff Arquette performed their comedy routines on opening night. Frank Sinatra, Phil Harris, Carol Lawrence, Robert Goulet, Keely Smith, Robert Mitchum, and Brenda Lee were among others to perform at the French Quarter Inn. Even Benny Goodman came to the club twice, but without his clarinet.
Pete’s greatest friendly rival was trumpeter Al Hirt, whose club was down the street. They visited each others clubs, played together, and stole musicians from each other. They were good friends and recorded several albums together.
In 2003, Fountain closed his club at the Hilton to a packed house. He performed 2 nights a week at Casino Magic in Bay St. Louis, MS. Until Hurricane Katrina destroyed his waterfront home there. After heart surgery in 2006, Fountain performed at the Jazz Fest and helped re-open the Bay St. Louis, MS casino renamed the Hollywood Casino. He performed his last show on December 8, 2010.
Half Fast Walking Club
For many years, New Orleanians could enjoy Fountain, founder and most prominent member of the Half Fast Walking Club, as they marched and performed on Mardi Gras Day. Fountain was forced by Krewe organizers to change the original name of Half Ass Walking Club to Half Fast Walking Club in order to be family friendly.
Musical Contributions & Awards
Fountain’s clarinet is revered for his sweet fluid tone. His distinctive woody sound comes from a crystal mouthpiece that he has played with since 1949. His first crystal mouthpiece belonged to Irving Fazola. After her son’s death, Fazola’s mother heard Fountain play, remarkably like her son, and gave him the mouthpiece. This mouthpiece was accidently shattered on stage by band member George Girard but saved by Fountain.
In 2006, Fountain earned an honorary degree from Loyola University and in 2007, he was inducted in the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame. In 2008, Fountain was inducted at the 7th annual Delta Music Museum Festival in Ferriday, LA. An exhibit was dedicated to Fountain and he received a star on the museum “Walk of Fame.”