Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown (April 18, 1924 — September 10, 2005) was an Ame… Read Full Bio ↴Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown (April 18, 1924 — September 10, 2005) was an American blues musician. He was born in Vinton, Louisiana and raised in Orange, Texas. He is best known for his work as a blues musician, but embraced other styles of music, having "spent his career fighting purism by synthesizing old blues, country, jazz, cajun music and rhythm & blues styles" His work also encompasses rock and roll, rock music, folk, electric blues, and Texas blues.
He was an acclaimed multi-instrumentalist, who played an array of musical instruments such as guitar, fiddle, mandolin, viola as well as harmonica and drums. He won a Grammy Award for Best Traditional Blues Album in 1983 for his album, Alright Again! He is regarded as one of the most influential exponents of blues fiddle and has had enormous influence in American fiddle circles.
Brown's two biggest musical influences were Louis Jordan and T-Bone Walker.
His professional musical career began in 1945, playing drums in San Antonio, Texas. He was tagged with the "Gatemouth" handle by a high school instructor who accused Brown of having a "voice like a gate". Brown used it to his advantage throughout his career. His career was boosted while attending a 1947 concert by T-Bone Walker in Don Robey's Bronze Peacock Houston nightclub. When Walker became ill, Brown took up his guitar and quickly wrote and played "Gatemouth Boogie," to the delight of the audience right on the spot.
In 1949 Robey founded Peacock Records in order to showcase Brown's virtuoso guitar work. Brown's "Mary Is Fine"/"My Time Is Expensive" was a hit for Peacock in 1949. A string of Peacock releases in the 1950s were less successful commercially, but were nonetheless pioneering musically. Particularly notable was the 1951 instrumental "Okie Dokie Stomp", in which Brown solos continuously over a punchy horn section (other instrumentals from this period include "Boogie Uproar" and "Gate Walks to Board"). Okie Dokie Stomp was also recorded by Cornell Dupree in the 1970s and he had success with it as well. As for his gutsy violin playing, Robey allowed him to record "Just Before Dawn" as his final Peacock release in 1959.
In the 1960s Brown moved to Nashville, Tennessee 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. In 1966, Brown was the musical director for the house band on the short-lived television program, The !!!! Beat.
However, in the early 1970s several countries in Europe had developed an appreciation for American roots music, especially the blues, and Brown was a popular and well-respected artist there. He toured Europe twelve times, beginning in 1971 and continuing throughout the 1970s. 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. Brown appeared at the 1973 Montreux Jazz Festival, where he jammed with American blues rock band Canned Heat. In 1974, he recorded as a sideman with the New Orleans pianist Professor Longhair on his album, Rock 'N' Roll Gumbo (originally a Blue Star Records release). He moved to New Orleans in the late 1970s. In 1979, through his manager at the time, Jim Halsey, Brown embarked on a 6 week, 44 concert tour of the Soviet Union. This was an historic event as it marked the first time the Soviet Union made a contract with a U.S. private citizen (Jim Halsey) as regards a musical tour. All previous tours were under the auspices of the U.S. State Department. To date, this was by far the most extensive tour an American band had taken in the USSR.
In the 1980s, 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 Grammy in 1983 for the album Alright Again! and was nominated for five more. "Alright Again!" is credited with putting Brown back on the musical map. He also won 8 WC Handy Awards. In 1999 Brown was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame.
In his last few years, he maintained a full touring schedule, including Australia, New Zealand, and countries with political conflicts in Central America, Africa, and the former Soviet Union. His final record "Timeless" was released in 2004.
In September 2004, Brown was diagnosed with lung cancer. Already suffering from emphysema and heart disease, he and his doctors decided to forgo treatment. This greatly affected his musical career. Later his home in Slidell, Louisiana was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and he was evacuated to his childhood home town of Orange, Texas, where he died on September 10, 2005 at the apartment of a niece, at the age of 81. Brown is buried in the Hollywood Cemetery in Orange, Texas. However, flooding caused by Hurricane Ike in September 2008 damaged his grave. His grave has since been refurbished and through donations a very impressive headstone has been erected in his honor.
He was an acclaimed multi-instrumentalist, who played an array of musical instruments such as guitar, fiddle, mandolin, viola as well as harmonica and drums. He won a Grammy Award for Best Traditional Blues Album in 1983 for his album, Alright Again! He is regarded as one of the most influential exponents of blues fiddle and has had enormous influence in American fiddle circles.
Brown's two biggest musical influences were Louis Jordan and T-Bone Walker.
His professional musical career began in 1945, playing drums in San Antonio, Texas. He was tagged with the "Gatemouth" handle by a high school instructor who accused Brown of having a "voice like a gate". Brown used it to his advantage throughout his career. His career was boosted while attending a 1947 concert by T-Bone Walker in Don Robey's Bronze Peacock Houston nightclub. When Walker became ill, Brown took up his guitar and quickly wrote and played "Gatemouth Boogie," to the delight of the audience right on the spot.
In 1949 Robey founded Peacock Records in order to showcase Brown's virtuoso guitar work. Brown's "Mary Is Fine"/"My Time Is Expensive" was a hit for Peacock in 1949. A string of Peacock releases in the 1950s were less successful commercially, but were nonetheless pioneering musically. Particularly notable was the 1951 instrumental "Okie Dokie Stomp", in which Brown solos continuously over a punchy horn section (other instrumentals from this period include "Boogie Uproar" and "Gate Walks to Board"). Okie Dokie Stomp was also recorded by Cornell Dupree in the 1970s and he had success with it as well. As for his gutsy violin playing, Robey allowed him to record "Just Before Dawn" as his final Peacock release in 1959.
In the 1960s Brown moved to Nashville, Tennessee 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. In 1966, Brown was the musical director for the house band on the short-lived television program, The !!!! Beat.
However, in the early 1970s several countries in Europe had developed an appreciation for American roots music, especially the blues, and Brown was a popular and well-respected artist there. He toured Europe twelve times, beginning in 1971 and continuing throughout the 1970s. 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. Brown appeared at the 1973 Montreux Jazz Festival, where he jammed with American blues rock band Canned Heat. In 1974, he recorded as a sideman with the New Orleans pianist Professor Longhair on his album, Rock 'N' Roll Gumbo (originally a Blue Star Records release). He moved to New Orleans in the late 1970s. In 1979, through his manager at the time, Jim Halsey, Brown embarked on a 6 week, 44 concert tour of the Soviet Union. This was an historic event as it marked the first time the Soviet Union made a contract with a U.S. private citizen (Jim Halsey) as regards a musical tour. All previous tours were under the auspices of the U.S. State Department. To date, this was by far the most extensive tour an American band had taken in the USSR.
In the 1980s, 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 Grammy in 1983 for the album Alright Again! and was nominated for five more. "Alright Again!" is credited with putting Brown back on the musical map. He also won 8 WC Handy Awards. In 1999 Brown was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame.
In his last few years, he maintained a full touring schedule, including Australia, New Zealand, and countries with political conflicts in Central America, Africa, and the former Soviet Union. His final record "Timeless" was released in 2004.
In September 2004, Brown was diagnosed with lung cancer. Already suffering from emphysema and heart disease, he and his doctors decided to forgo treatment. This greatly affected his musical career. Later his home in Slidell, Louisiana was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and he was evacuated to his childhood home town of Orange, Texas, where he died on September 10, 2005 at the apartment of a niece, at the age of 81. Brown is buried in the Hollywood Cemetery in Orange, Texas. However, flooding caused by Hurricane Ike in September 2008 damaged his grave. His grave has since been refurbished and through donations a very impressive headstone has been erected in his honor.
Pressure Cooker
Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Pressure Cooker' by these artists:
Akil Elijah Womp, What Happened Look I bring the pressure when I'm cooki…
Dazy This that, this that, this that I can't take it, I…
Dazy & Militarie Gun This that, this that, this that I can't take it, I…
Pegboard Nerds I'm kickin' in the flow Don't you know Bobby Joe Listen up…
Sage Francis (Where have you been?) I've been busy, get-get-get off my…
We have lyrics for these tracks by Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown:
Ain't Nobody Here but Us Chickens One night farmer Brown was takin' the airs Locked up the…
Better Off With The Blues Since you been gone I've had time to myself Haven't even…
Breaux Bridge Rag Off of the shrimp boat, boy what a day Venice just…
Cross My Heart If you cross your heart to someone You're not supposed to…
Dollar Got The Blues dollar got the blues gettin lower every day dollar got the…
Don't Get Around Much Anymore Missed the Saturday dance Heard they crowded the floor Cou…
Drifter Once again There's a feeling inside of me Nothing new I'v…
Frosty 3 and 3 is 6 baby 3 and 6 is nine if…
Going Back To Louisiana Well it's three o'clock in the morning' ya'll Oh, and I'm…
Got My Mojo Working Got my mojo working, but it just won't work on…
Guitar in My Hand i was standin at the train statio nwith a guitar…
I Hate These Doggone Blues Hello, baby I tried to call you on the phone…
Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby I got a gal who's always late Any time we have…
Lie No Better Here you come draggin' in Three a.m. again Grinnin' that…
Louisian' Well it's three o'clock in the mornin' ya'll Oh, and I'm…
May the Bird of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose One fine day as I was a-walkin' down the street Spied…
Midnight Hour Midnight is a lonely hour Yes, to be alone, people Midnigh…
Never Ending Love For You I've got a never ending love for you From now…
Never Ending Song of Love I've got a never ending love for you From now on,…
Please Mr. Nixon Please Mr. Nixon, don't cut off your welfare line Please Mr…
September Song Oh, it's a long, long while from May to December But…
Since I Fell For You When you just give love And never get love You'd better le…
Somebody Done Changed the Lock on My Door Somebody done changed Somebody done changed the lock on tha…
St Louis Blues I hate to see that evening sun go down I hate…
Stranded well i'm stranded in st louis my baby's down in san…
Strange Things Happen Learn to love me or leave me Either one you wanna…
Swamp Ghost muahahahahaha…
The Drifter Once again There's a feeling inside of me Nothing new I'v…
Without Me Baby without me baby tell em what would you do without me…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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P.L. H.
This is the first song I learned to play on guitar. It's good for beginners.
Kevin Skomsvold
LOL Then I like to follow it up with a one-string version of Smoke on The Water
xwarx1000
@Xplorer hahaha
Xplorer
Then you can move on to some more complex stuffs like Nirvana
xwarx1000
Hahaha👍
Patrick Foster
I was fortunate enough to meet Gate on several occasions while he was recording and sometimes while even just visiting with my father at his recording studio. My dad owned Studio in the Country, from 1979 through 1992, which is located in a small town north of New Orleans called Bogalusa. He was also the chief audio engineer, his love of recording and producing music is why he bought the place to begin with. It was an incredible facility with an artist roster that is quite remarkable. They are both deceased now, but Gate and my father were good friends with mutual respect for each other and they produced some great recordings during that time. Anyway, Gate was just as much of a character as you would want your elder jazz/blues living legend to be. He would always wear a beautiful engraved revolver in his hip holster just like a wild west cowboy. The studio is located deep in the woods for privacy so he always took the opportunity to fire off a few rounds when he was there. And he was quick to tell you he had been deputized by one of his friends who happened to be a sheriff and he would show off his badge. I'll never forget one time a Japanese rock band called "The Privates" were there recording for like the second or third time (they came to the studio from Japan first in 1987 and loved it so much they returned several times over the years, they were, and still are, quite famous and signed to Sony records over there). Their guitarist, Shonen, is a blues lover and knew all the licks of tons of old blues players, including Gatemouth, so dad arranged for Gatemouth to come to the studio to meet them. They were fascinated by his pistol, looking at it etc. until Gate pulled it out, without warning, and started firing until he completely emptied the revolver. They scattered like roaches and ran inside for cover. It scared the shit out of them, I don't think they had ever heard a gun being fired- they don't have a 2nd ammendment in Japan of course) Gate laughed his ass off about that one. Later in the day Shonen started playing some of Gate's songs and he got really pissed saying 'See all these young cats steal all my riffs and they make millions off it!' He was truly pissed about it but they later had a jam session and had a good time that evening. Anyway that's one of my Gatemouth stories. He was a really great, caring and kind person who was really down to earth despite his phenomenal musical talents.
Hambone
Hey Patrick, thanks for telling this story, I grew up in Pine and remember that Japanese band. Your dad was an awesome engineer (on another level) and a great guy. I'm glad to have known him. I still play the Mesa Boogie amp I bought from him in the early 90's.
Texas Cruiser
@Nicole Holford Lockney wow this is great stuff! I'm almost 40 and just now learning about these guys. I'm from and still in Austin where Antone's is still operating and they occasionally post memories on their Facebook so I came across Gatemouth and Albert Collins. From looking them up I've found out about many other musicians I never knew about.
Nicole Holford Lockney
Patrick — Thank for sharing that memory! I think your dad probably knew my grandfather Bill Holford. He owned ACA Studios in Houston (late 40s to 1990) & was chief audio engineer there. He made a lot of Gate’s recordings too!
Ross Guillory
Very interesting! I hear SITC is still recording! I live not far from there in Kentwood LA would love to check it out. I’m a record picker/collector and I don’t know how many hundreds of records I’ve found with the small print “Studio In The County” written on the labels!