This afternoon at Republic Square Park in Austin, Texas, is Sixth Street for Bourbon Street, a benefit concert for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. One of the musicians, who had planned to be there, sadly will not. Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown - who had roots in both Texas & Louisiana music – fell victim himself to Katrina, slipping away from us last Saturday, at the age of 81.
The singer and guitarist – note that I didn’t say blues guitarist for fear that Gate would rise up and haunt me the rest of my days - who built a 50-year career playing what he called “American music, Texas style,” a mix of blues, country, jazz and Cajun, died in his hometown of Orange, Texas, where he had gone to escape Hurricane Katrina. Devastated by the loss of his home in Slidell, Louisiana; recuperating from an angioplasty, as well as a long battle with lung cancer and emphysema, finally took its toll. Funeral services will be held at Mount Cavalry Baptist Church in Orange, Texas on Saturday, September 17th. While I doubt anyone reading this can attend, sometime on Saturday, take a moment to remember Gate and all those other lives so affected by Miss Katrina. Rest assured that today, in Austin, Delbert McClinton (pictured above with Gate in New Orleans’ Lafayette Square Park last April), Marcia Ball, Cyril Neville and others will have a song and story or two about their old friend who isn’t with us anymore. To read more about Gate, check out his website www.gatemouth.com. Peace.