Today Pete Fountain passed away.

If you don’t remember who he was, harken back to the Lawrence Welk show that our parents loved. He was the clarinetist who played New Orleans Dixieland jazz.

He had  big smile and a strip of beard on his chin. And he made that clarinet sing.

He was already a musical standout in NO when my family visited my mom’s brother in Hattiesberg, Mississippi. My Uncle Bob and Aunt Helen drove us to New Orleans for the day. I must have been five.

One of the places they took us to was the bar where Dixieland music was playing. We all walked in and sat down, waiting for the music to start.

And then the manager walked over to us and told us that I was too young to be seated in the bar. My sister and brother at eight and a half and ten years older than me were okay, but I had to leave.

It was an awful feeling to be sent outside. The club was full and I was the only one who couldn’t stay and hear the music. I still remember making that long walk to the back door.  My aunt went with me because she had heard him play before.

We sat down together on the step outside.

A few minutes later, the door opened and a man stuck his head out, saying,” You must be pretty special.  The band refuses to play unless the little girl can listen, too. Come on in.”

Miracle!

I remembering walking that long walk back to the banquette where my family was sitting,  in front of all those people waiting for the music.

In front of the band who  refused to play unless I could hear the music, too.

It was Pete Fountain and his band who made that little girl so happy that day.

Rest in peace, Mr. Fountain. You can now take that “Closer Walk with Thee.”

And thank you from the little girl who loved the music.

Sincerely,

Janet