00:45 Miner announces line up for tonight’s tribute to Professor Longhair at Tipitina’s and introduces the “unclassifiable, unique” Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown. Born 1924 in Vinton, LA, raised across the river in Orange, TX, in musical household, father played string instruments including accordion. Picked up guitar at 5 years old and fiddle at 10. Late 30’s played drums and sang in a road band, 40’s in a house band at Don Albert’s Keyhole in San Antonio. Known as the singing drummer. 05:30 Moved back to Houston in 1947, made his debut as a guitarist at Don Robey’s club, the Bronze Peacock. Brown met T-Bone Walker after Walker got sick, Brown picked up his guitar and played in his place on the bandstand. Robey started Peacock Records to record Brown, Bobby Blue Bland and others. 07:50 Demonstration Miner plays a Rounder reissue of an original Peacock recording from late 40’s called “Dirty Work at the Crossroads.” Big band sound, Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown and his Orchestra 09:25 23 piece band, traveled in 5 station wagons and 2 trucks doing one nighters. He developed the sound of a big band with a guitar lead. 1959 dropped the big band and went on his own. Has traveled to many countries, including Russia, Turkey, Kenya. 14:20 Demonstration Miner plays a 1974 Barclay Records recording done in Bougalousa, LA the same week that Prof Longhair’s house burned down. Brown agreed to play on Fess’s record. This is the classic, “definitive” version of “Jambalaya,” Cajun/country style. 18:00 Miner talks about Brown’s role traveling the world as a music ambassador for the State Department. He is also a sheriff in St. Tammany parish, describes himself as a “lovable sheriff.” 1982 won Grammy for best Blues recording and 1983 won the W.C.Handy award for entertainer of the year. Has been nominated for 5 Grammy’s. 21:50 Early musical influences were big band jazz like Count Basie, Lionel Hampton, Louis Jordan. Brown has studied music his entire life, does not like country blues that carry a negative message, especially toward women. As he’s grown older he has influenced and mentors younger musicians. His music and messages have become more positive. His 12 year old daughter, Renee, sings with him. She will sing with Gatemouth at his afternoon performance, and has been on the road with him (and her mother) since she was small. 27:00 His advice to young musicians is “be yourself.” Just recorded with Michelle Shocked in Memphis, arranged a song for her and played viola on it. Several audience questions. When asked where he got his name, he says he won’t answer because it’s been asked a million times. It will be in his new book which he’s been writing for about 8 years, keeps adding new material. “I may never get it finished.” Audience question, what do you think about current trends in Zydeco? “don’t run it into the ground, too much of it makes it bad.” Is there anything you’d like to do in the future? “Have a happy life with my family, that’s it.”
