Clarence Gatemouth Brown
Brown is an extraordinary artist who combined different musical styles such as blues, swing, country, cajun, R&B and jazz. He played many instruments such as guitar, violin, bass, drums, mandolin, viola and harmonica. He won the Grammy Award for Best Traditional Blues Album in 1983 for his album Alright Again!
Clarence Gatemouth Brown was born in 1924 in Vinton, Louisiana, and grew up near Orange, Texas. His father was a railroad worker and local musician who taught him to play several instruments, including the violin as early as 5 years old. Clarence began playing guitar at the age of 10 and drums in swing bands as a teenager.
His professional music career began in 1945 when he played drums in San Antonio, Texas. He was given the nickname “Gatemouth” by a high school teacher who said he had “a voice like a gate.” His career took off when he went to see a T-Bone Walker concert at Don Robey’s Bronze Peacock nightclub in Houston in 1947. Walker fell ill and Clarence replaced him on guitar, quickly writing and playing “Gatemouth Boogie”, much to the delight of the audience.
In 1949, Robey founded Peacock Records to showcase Clarence’s masterful guitar playing. His “Mary Is Fine” from “My Time Is Expensive” on the B-side was a hit for Peacock in 1949. Next Peacock releases in the 1950s were less commercially successful, but musically very innovative. Particularly notable was the 1954 instrumental track “Okie Dokie Stomp,” in which Clarence solos continuously over an energetic brass section (other instrumentals from this period include “Boogie Uproar” and “Gate Walks to Board”).
In the 60s. Clarence moved to Nashville, Tennessee, to participate in a syndicated television R&B show and recorded several country singles. He became friends with Roy Clark and appeared on the television show Hee Haw many times. In 1966, he was the musical director of a home band on the short-lived television show The !!! Beat.
In the 70s. Clarence traveled the world as a blues ambassador for the U.S. State Department. He has recorded several albums for the French label Barclay Records and performed at jazz and blues festivals. He has also collaborated with many other musicians, such as Eric Clapton, Ry Cooder, Albert Collins and Maria Muldaur.
In the 80s and 90s. Clarence continued to record and perform for various labels such as Rounder Records, Alligator Records, and Verve Records. His albums have been praised by critics and fans alike for his eclectic style and daring guitar and violin playing.
Clarence died in 2005 in Orange, Texas at the age of 81. He left behind a rich musical legacy and influenced many other artists. His son, Clarence Brown Jr., is also a blues musician.
And now some interesting facts from Clarence’s life:
– He didn’t like to be called a bluesman, claiming that his music was “American music”.
– He played the guitar right-handed, but with his left hand on the neck and the strings reversed.
– He was a fan of cowboy movies and wore a hat, cowboy boots, and scarf.
– He was also an expert in billiards and chess.
– He recorded the song “Pressure Cooker” as the theme song for the TV show Iron Chef America.
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