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Classic Vinyl
Clarence Gatemouth Brown
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Clarence Gatemouth Brown
Clarence Gatemouth Brown
CGBrown In Kitchener
Kitchener Photo Shot
CGB Long Way Home CD Photo
Some of Gatemouth's influences were from the big band era, Count Basie, Lionel Hampton and Duke Ellington---"Take The "A" Train" remained the centrepiece of Brown's repertoire.
Clarence's big break came in 1947 when he filled in for an ailing T-Bone Walker at The Peacock nightclub in Houston----Gatemouth could play guitar when he was five, by age 10 he could play fiddle and mandolin and in the years to come, drums bass and harmonica. He was definitely a MUSICAL LEGEND---a Texas musical master of virtually every roots genre imaginable.
Clarence recorded his first recordings for Aladdin Records in 1947 then started to record for Peacock Records in 1949---"Mary Is Fine" was his only hit---his manager Don Robey took credit for his song writ tings---another story of a black musician taken advantage of for 20 years of his recordings (the slime in the business) he also had a minor Bitter hit "You Got Money" was written about Robey---between 1947 and 1960 Brown recorded over 50 sides for the Peacock Label.
He spent most of the 1950's leading 2 bands--a 23 piece black orchestra and a smaller group of white musicians. This arrangement allowed him to play in both black and white establishments where blacks were usually not allowed. He travelled quite extensively his whole life all over the world---check out the pictures my friend Jerry took of Clarence Gatemouth Brown playing in the mid 1980's in Kitchener Ontario---I wish I had been there. My other photo's this week are from his cd recording of "Long Way Home" which I recommend you to buy on the Verve Label.
Brown's style of jazz/cajun/country/blues has influenced many guitarists as diverse as Albert Collins, Frank Zappa, Roy Buchanan, Guitar Slim, Johnny Copeland and Johnny "Guitar" Watson.
Some of Gatemouth Brown's great recordings throughout the 1947-1960 definitely worth checking out are Mary Is Fine/My Time Is Expensive--blazing instrumentals Boogie Uproar/Gate Walks to Board, 1954's Okie Dokie Stomp, rockers She Walked Right In/Rock My Blues Away and lowdown Lone Star blues "Dirty Work at the Crossroads.----when Brown finally broke free of Don Robey in 1964, he recorded for a various labels, Cue, Cinderella, Pam, Chess and Heritage. He had a Huge following in France and travelled there in 1971 and recorded for Black and Blue, Barclay and Blue Star.
He appeared at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1973/ Newport Jazz Festival '73, The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in '74,'76,'77 and at the Monterey Jazz Festival in '77. Gatemouth Brown could also play great old-time fiddle hoedowns with the likes of Roy Clark and they cut a hot 1979 duet album for MCA---He also recorded for Rounder, Alligator, Verve and Blue Thumb in the 80's. 90's and 2000's have proven that Gatemouth Brown is an unclassifiable American Original. Gatemouth Brown passed away on September 10, 2005 in Orange Texas.
Be sure to check out this week's youtube's of Gatemouth Brown in action---a very talented musician. Gatemouth's "Pressure Cooker" http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=xZ40kVRvcdk The bluesy "What Am I Living For" http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=pw85jUgaFlg&feat...ure=related <http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=pw85jUgaFlg&f...ure=related> and a real treat from 1983 "Song for Renee" with Gatemouth on Violin http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=-N8TcJkCxkU&feat...ure=related <http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=-N8TcJkCxkU&f...ure=related> Hope you appreciate his talents as much as I do and check out more of his music on youtube what a GREAT viewing site in this day and age for us to have access to.
Hope you enjoyed this weeks column and see you in 2 weeks---contact me at bluesslider88@yahoo.ca or at cktimes with any comments you would like to make about classic vinyl
Allan Day----long time acquaintance of John Gardiner----I presently live in Goderich Ontario, retired (oh yeah) and live for the sound of music, especially from the 60's music explosion---I hope you enjoy some of my articles and they bring back some lost memories of bands gone by. Now I have to let you know that I am a HUGE Rolling Stones fan, collector, historian and I hope to hear any stories you might have on this GREAT Band from the 60's----email me at CK Times and let me know what you have or memories you have of this group. I will include stories and short stories on The Stones each week.
