Gatemouth Brown

Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown (born April 18, 1924 , Orange, Texas , died September 10 2005 in Orange, Texas) was generally categorized as a blues artist and guitarist, although he described his own music as "American music, Texas style." He played many styles of music (jazz, blues, bluegrass, zydeco, cajun, calypso), often blending elements from different styles into one tune, and is a multi-instrumentalist (guitar, violin, harmonica, piano, mandolin, viola, drums). Over the years, he has played a wide variety of guitars, including Gibson L-5s and Fender Telecasters, but the main guitar he is associated with is a mid-60's Gibson Firebird. His impressive guitar style has influenced many other blues guitarists such as Albert Collins, Guitar Slim, and Johnny "Guitar" Watson. He is also considered as one of the first guitarists to use a capo in his guitar technique.

Related Topics:
April 18 - 1924 - Orange, Texas - September 10 - 2005 - Blues - Guitarist - Jazz - Bluegrass - Zydeco - Cajun - Calypso - Guitar - Violin - Harmonica - Piano - Mandolin - Viola - Drum - Albert Collins - Guitar Slim - Johnny "Guitar" Watson - Capo

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Although he started his career as a drummer, he gained attention as a guitarist in 1947 when he substituted for an ailing T-Bone Walker at a club show in Houston, Texas. The club's owner saw an opportunity, and he signed Brown to his label and sent him out on tour. Although well-known in the American South and Southwest, Brown had trouble reaching a national audience, and recorded for several different small labels in the early part of his career.

Related Topics:
T-Bone Walker - Houston, Texas

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In the 1960's he moved to Nashville to participate in a syndicated R & B television show, and while he was there recorded several country singles. He struck up a friendship with Roy Clark and made several appearances on the television show Hee Haw. By the late 60's he had decided to leave the music business and he moved to New Mexico and became a deputy sheriff. However, in the early 1970's several countries in Europe had developed an appreciation for American roots music, especially blues, and Brown was a popular and well-respected artist there. He toured Europe twelve times in the 1970's and recorded nine albums. He also became an official ambassador for American music, and participated in several tours sponsored by the U.S. State Department, including an extensive tour of Eastern Africa.

Related Topics:
Nashville - R & B - Roy Clark - Hee Haw - New Mexico - Sheriff - Roots music - State Department

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In the 1980's, a series of releases on Rounder Records and Alligator Records revitalized his U.S. career, and he toured extensively and internationally, usually playing between 250 and 300 shows a year. He won a blues Grammy in 1982 for the album Alright Again! and has been nominated for five more. He has also been awarded eight W. C. Handy Awards and the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences Heroes Award.

Related Topics:
Rounder Records - Alligator Records - Grammy - W. C. Handy Award - National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences

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In September 2004, Brown was diagnosed with lung cancer. Already suffering from emphysema and heart disease, he and his doctors decided to forgo treatment.

Related Topics:
Lung cancer - Emphysema - Heart disease

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His most recent album, "Timeless", was released in late 2004.

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Brown died at the age of 81 in his hometown of Orange, Texas. He had left Louisiana for Texas a few days before the arrivial of Hurricane Katrina.

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