Posted on 05/14/2009 10:51:10 PM PDT by pissant
It's been nearly eight months since I first wrote about the insults heaped upon the memory of blues legend Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown. First, Hurricane Katrina forced Brown to flee from his Louisiana home and relocate in Orange, Texas, his former hometown. Brown died from lung cancer shortly after losing everything in the storm, including his beloved black 1977 Cadillac.
Buried in Hollywood Cemetery in Orange, the temporary marker on Brown's grave was blown away a couple of weeks after his death by Hurricane Rita. Sadly, Brown's grave remained unmarked until Hurricane Ike devastated the Gulf Coast of Texas. The top of Brown's burial vault was forced off by flood waters, and his bronze casket simply floated away, one of over a dozen to do so. Brown's vault has since been properly re-buried.
Here's the good news: thanks to the efforts of local educator Robert Finch and the state of Texas, Brown's grave will be honored with an official Texas Historical Commission marker, placed in tribute for his contributions to the state. Finch also began a drive to raise money for a proper marker last summer, and the money that he raised – some of it from you great About.com Blues readers – will be used to improve the gravesite and place an elaborate, permanent grave marker. The state marker will take about a year to produce and place on or near Brown's grave.
Better than three-and-a-half years after the death of Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, the American music legend can finally rest in peace.
ping to a march story about the Gate (RIP)
RIP
Good stuff!
Nice. Gatemouth Brown is worth looking into, a pioneer, great musician, writer, producer and ( I believe) the first black record co. owner.
I have very few modern music heroes, including Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman, Miles Davis, Frank Zappa, Chet Atkins, James Brown, Merle Haggard , Art Tatum and Bob Marley... but Gatemouth is up there with them. RIP
bump I enjoyed his music.
I listened to several of them, all good to a blues lover like me, but I picked that one because I am partial to harp’s and they did a very interesting arraignment in that one simulating blues harp sounds.
My he RIP.
Alligator Eating Dog push BTT.
The site this was posted on is fantastic.
Thanks for the ping and the “Blues Report” site tip.
Good to see the legend finally get this well-deserved recognition.
I first heard of Gatemouth Brown when he opened for Eric Clapton on Clapton’s 1995 blues tour. Let me tell you, in 20 short minutes he blew Clapton and band out of the water. Very charismatic, switched effortlessly between guitar and fiddle, an all around pro. I was a believer after that, and was saddened to hear of his passing post-Katrina. I’m glad to see he will finally rest in peace.
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