Okay, first Nawlins' gets wacked.........

Okay, first Nawlin’s gets wacked by Katrina, now Clarence”gatemouth” Brown dies.

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana (AP) -- Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, the singer and guitarist who built a 50-year career playing blues, country, jazz and Cajun music, died Saturday in his hometown of Orange, Texas, where he had gone to escape Hurricane Katrina. He was 81..

If you haven’t heard any of Mr. Brown’s music—do so. Mr. Brown was never really comfortable being called a bluesman. In a 2001 interview he said” I’m so unorthodox a lot of people can’t handle it” Well, he was right. First time I heard him it was on the lawn in D.C. during a week long blues festival in the early 80’s. I didn’t quite know what to make of him and his music. I’m of the opinion that what we mere humans don’t understand, we fear. You know what happens once we have a fear—yeah, we have to destroy what we fear. Be it metaphorically or just out right physically.

That particular weekend I was surrounded by a lot of brave, knowing people. The usual shit didn’t happen. I relaxed and allowed Mr. Brown’s music to flow over and through me—I allowed the music to touch a piece of me deep down within my soul. Before I knew it I was embracing the music like a long lost lover—His music speaks to my primative side- much Like the great Robert Johnson’s music does- Yes, I like my blues straight up- no chaser. Mr. Brown was right. His music is some other shit; a mixture of jazz, country, Texas blues, and Zydeco, fused together so you can hardly tell where one ends and the other starts.

I hope when Mr. Brown enters the pearly gates he don’t get offended when St. Pete says, “welcome home Bluesman.” Take care Mr. Brown, and thanks for making a summer Saturday afternoon long ago such a great memory.

Later’