# RIP Pete Fountain, New Orleans jazz clarinetist

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-pete-fountain-new-orleans-jazz-clarinetist/762005>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [August 7, 2016, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-pete-fountain-new-orleans-jazz-clarinetist/762005 "2016-08-07T02:20:04Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\
**Post date:** [August 7, 2016, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-pete-fountain-new-orleans-jazz-clarinetist/762005/1 "2016-08-07T02:20:04Z")

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[Sad to see him go](http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/07/arts/music/pete-fountain-clarinetist-known-for-his-high-spirited-new-orleans-jazz-dies-at-86.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=mini-moth&region=top-stories-below&WT.nav=top-stories-below&_r=0). He and Al Hirt were good buddies.

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**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\
**Post date:** [August 7, 2016, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-pete-fountain-new-orleans-jazz-clarinetist/762005/2 "2016-08-07T04:17:35Z")

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Wow, one of the all-time greats. R.I.P.

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**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\
**Post date:** [August 7, 2016, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-pete-fountain-new-orleans-jazz-clarinetist/762005/3 "2016-08-07T04:56:35Z")

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I first learned about Pete Fountain years ago when he would appear on the Tonight Show - Johnny Carson was a fan of his. Years later I saw him play several times at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.

One thing I liked about Fountain was his taste. He played traditional New Orleans jazz, a genre that is often filled with corn and hokum, but he never relied on this. He respected the music and played it cleanly.

Fountain also projected a sense of fun. He looked like he was having a great time doing what he loved.

John Goodman was a big fan. I’m sure he’s grieving over this.

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**Author:** ![lost4life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)\
**Post date:** [August 8, 2016, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-pete-fountain-new-orleans-jazz-clarinetist/762005/4 "2016-08-08T14:29:43Z")

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It was always fun to run across his Half-Fast Walking Club during Mardi Gras.