British guitarist reacts to Clarence 'Gatemouth' Brown's TIGHT blues chops!

[@avidrdr5640]

I used to be a shoe shine contractor in a major truck stop. About 30 years ago he and his band spent a few hours there while their tour bus was being repaired. I shined 2 pairs of his boots and had such a pleasant conversation with him. He was a super nice guy. He tipped well then joined me in the restaurant during my break and bought me dinner. He played different instruments (a bada** fiddle player!) and almost every genre of music. I asked him what music style he liked best and he said "whatever I'm playing at the moment".

[@RonNolte]

Saw him in a small bar/club in Durango Colorado in 1971 or 1972. I had no idea who he was. I was sitting in front watching him, and playing along on my "Air Guitar". I was so into his performance. He asked me to get on stage with him, and I did! He stood behind me, and wrapped his guitar around in front of me, and played while I watched first hand. Pretending it was me doing all of those things. Amazing experience. So fun.

[@almacneil8375]

I was stationed near New Orleans in the early 2000’s. Gatemouth used to drop in at M&M Bar-b-Q on Highway 11 in Slidell LA on Sunday afternoons. One day me and my buddy were the only ones in there as Gatemouth just jammed away on the little stage. Then jumped into his old black ‘65 Cadillac and head down to his little old house on the lake. Very good times.

[@firsteerr]

this is a great demonstration of what Rickenbacker were about .. a jazz style guitar with great tone , add a truly legendary player like gatemouth and you have this !!!

[@wingsofpegasus]

👍

[@davebrown3230]

He also did a show with Roy on Austin Coity Limits . I heard him twice in the seventies . Once in his hometown of Orange and the other in near by Beaumont , Texas . He was born in Louisana and his family moved to Texas , when he was young . Later in life he had a place in New Orleans , but huricane Katrina destroyed it along with his instruments and awards . He then moved back to Orange Texas , which is where he died . I worked as a repairman at a music store in Beaumont and got free tickets to his show at a tiny club in Beaumont . When I went to the club to get my tickets I got to talk to him for awhile . He also played the hell out of the fiddle at his concerts .

[@wingsofpegasus]

Cool!

[@glenkelley4607]

A good video of him playing both guitar and fiddle is here - 2004 with Santana kzbin.info/www/bejne/rKTIpoivipVpmq8

[@BlindWillieJackson]

It was eerie. Katrina chased him out of his home in Slidell, LA in the middle of the night all the way back to where he was raised across the border in Orange, TX where he died. Thinking about it always reminds me of my favorite song of his, The Drifter.

[@1980bwc]

Yeah he could work a fiddle over really good. We dont see talent like that anymore. Not in mainstream anyway. There is alot of super talented young people performing out there today, but sadly most of them will never be known outside their hometowns.

[@TheAxe4Ever]

Out of all of the channels I’m subscribed to, yours has quickly become my absolute favorite. It’s apparent that you have a great appreciation for a lot of different styles of music and guitar players varied techniques. And I love how you break down the playing. You know your stuff and seeing what a fan you are makes your videos all the more interesting and sincere. Cheers!

[@wingsofpegasus]

Thanks!

[@modularmuse]

Cool, never heard a Rickenbacker played with this style before, and a triple-pickup to boot; that looks like one of the short-scale ones, the pickups really lend to that sound, what a sweet tone he got, I hear some jazz influence.

[@GP2141BC]

BlaBlog101 Definitely got some jazz influences check out the a train with Roy Clark !

[@modularmuse]

@@GP2141BC Exactly, I sent Fil a link to that one previously ;)

[@wingsofpegasus]

👍

[@BlindWillieJackson]

I started going to Gate's shows beginning in 1990 when I moved to Dallas at the age of 22. I rarely missed a performance throughout the nineties & early 2000s when he came to town which was usually about twice a year. They were always at intimate club venues. We usually chatted it up between sets. He was always magical. He did one gig at Poor David's Pub where he played solo acoustic. It was amazing. The Dallas Morning News called it one of the years ten best live performances.

[@danielschaeffer1294]

Love Gatemouth! Several points you touched on. 1) Watching his hands he's clearly in the Texas folk-blues tradition best embodied in Lightnin' Sam Hopkins. It's just that he's doing it all halfway up the neck, at ferocious speed, and he can do it because of that capo! 2) Albert Collins learned a lot from Gate -- including the capo. Matter of fact that whole tradition of single string lightning-fast soloing has always been an earmark of Texas blues, as witness Freddie King, Johnny Winter, Bugs Henderson, and SRV. And there's a new kid on the block: Gary Clark Jr. KZbin vids are showing up of what this guy can do live, and he plays with so much feeling he's SCARY!

[@wingsofpegasus]

Cool!

[@vocalion9519]

I had the pleasure of meeting him after a show. The guy who talked to him after me was really pressing him on which of his albums he should get. Gate told him, “Whichever album you see, that’s the one to get.” Great answer on his part. I’ve never been disappointed with any of his albums.

[@wingsofpegasus]

Cool!

[@nunyabuiness6370]

This guy is really good. I'm 60 and I saw him 20years ago in Atlanta because I heard him play "I got my mojo working” fantastic. RIP.

[@avidrdr5640]

His tour bus broke down in Atlanta that night after the show and he and his band hung out for a few hours while it was being worked on at the Petro Truck Stop where I was working. I ran the shoe shine stand and had a great conversation with him while I shined a couple of pairs of his boots Afterwards he joined me in the restaurant and bought me dinner. He was a super nice guy, showing me pictures of his daughter, whom he was really attached to.

[@keithschofield1158]

This was one of frank zappas favorite guitarist

[@briansbrain426]

Can't stop my toe from tapping....you know it's good music when it moves you without your knowing it.

[@wingsofpegasus]

👍😂

[@hcombs0104]

I'm just now discovering this man, such fun to listen to! I'm noticing I wind up listening to his songs more than once. BTW those go-go dancers with those boots were seen all the time on TV at the time.

[@chuckvt5196]

Thanks for highlighting Clarence. He was amazing! Few know that he was also a world class fiddler!!

[@wingsofpegasus]

👍☺

[@hksigman]

First thing that struck me was that he was playing a Rickenbacker. Very unusual for the Blues. The Rick has a great clean sound for what he’s playing. The Beatles really put Rickenbacker on the map for guitarists.

[@wingsofpegasus]

👍

[@rcheath4258]

You were right Fil. I must have missed this. Gatemouth Brown is awesome and refused to ever refer to himself as a blues man. Such a talent

[@stonerabbit344]

Saw Clarence at the King Edward Hotel blues bar (Locally known as “The King Eddy”) in Calgary, Alberta. He was a master of Texas blues, but also played a variety of R&B, Cajun (“Louisiana Zydeco” is a favorite), jazz, and country. In a side note, The King Eddy was closed and abandoned after 2004. In 2013 the century old hotel was taken apart brick-by-brick, restored, and became a permanent feature of Canada’s National Music Centre. It remains a venue for live music today. Another great analysis, Fil. I start every morning with at least one of your shows. Thanks for reviving this memory of Gatemouth.

[@davidhuffaker4559]

I was blessed to have known Gate and hang out with him at his place in Slidell,LA.. I moved back to Slidell in 2003 on old hwy 11 close to rats nest rd. Gate live on that same rd. 1 day i was driving down hwy 11 my car died (72 midget) bad electrical lol and a guy came over to help me . He asked if I did handy work said he needed help .I needed $$$ so great! I show up the next day and he shows me the house,s we would be working on.2 shacks over the water right on hwy11 .When I walked up I saw a 72 black Cadillac with gates insignia on the side window and I was like ???!!! Then the asks me if I have ever heard of Gatemouth Brown !!!! Yes why !!!!! ??? Well this is his house 🏠 😳 !!! Sure enough Gate answers the door !!!! He was real nice thanked me for coming to help . I'll never forget the first night he played a song for me on his radio he had done called darling of the dance hall ,to this day I haven't heard it since .Amazing song !!! Anyways so fast fwd 1 month and Gate is going to Japan for 2 weeks to play so he gives me his phone number and ask me to please keep an eye on it for him cause the guy that introduced me to Gate was steeling from him so he was worried while he was gone . 2 weeks later I get a call from Gate HEY MAN GET DOWN HERE HE BROKE IN MY PLACE !!! SO we got in the Cadillac and went looking for him. That night Gate took me to dinner when we came back to his place the light was on and that guy was in gates house!!!!! 79 yrs. Old he jumped out of his car 🚗 and grabbed the end of a garden hose that had been cut off and started beating this guy with it 🙄 🤣!!! Gate had a 457 he carried as an honorary sherifF of the Slidell sheriff s depth. And told that guy next time he would shoot his ass dead!!!! LMAO IT WAS CRAZY !!! He was full of life and fight till the end . July 13 of 2005 I got out jail on some bullshit weed charge that Gate was very upset about cause he did not drink ever just had 2 pipes 1 for tabbaco 1 for weed :).So August 29th 2005 Katrina hit and leveled everything !!!! 1 week later I went back to see the damage .You couldn't get down hwy11 without a license with ur address cause debris was everywhere!!! I was slowly driving trying to figure out where Gates house used to be .Then there it was Gates 72 Cadillac stuck half way in the ground with the trunk sticking above ground !!!!! Nothing left of either house but I found stuck in the mud 4 BRAND NEW GATE MOUTH CD'S STILL WEAPPED IN CELIFANE !!!!!!!

[@steveanderson8137]

Had the privilege of seeing him live not long before he passed. Such a fun show

[@billrosmus6734]

I played a bit with a guy in Saint Louis named Bennie Smith. When I played a barre chord he said, 'oh you play them cowboy chords.' He always used his thumb for the E string. Now I do mostly, but not always. :)

[@gretabarrs7810]

What a fantastic surprise!! You knocked it out of the park!!; there's another video of him from the 80s "pressure cooker" , then he just erupts into the fiddle!! Massive talent and greatly missed!! btw, Gate's playing makes me wanna put on a fringe skirt and shake what my momma gave me!!

[@wingsofpegasus]

No problem!

[@jeffclairday9807]

I really appreciate when you go back to the start of the electric guitar days. A lot of people don't realize how good the early performers were. They laid the foundation for what we hear today.

[@wingsofpegasus]

👍☺

[@cadilacslim]

Gatemouth could fill the room also with his voice.

[@Johnnycdrums]

Yeah, I found out about Gatemouth when while in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba when I picked up a cassette tape at the Navy Exchange back in the Eighties. It was the one where Roy and Gate played a lot of jazz standards. I was like a blind squirrel finding a nut.

[@johnhitz1185]

I didn't know this before, but he was a multi-instrumentalist, not just harmonica as with the Canned Heat Montreux concert in 1973, but drums, violin, etc. Super talented. Thanks!

[@jazzcat8786]

Love the explanation points all over the stage set-up😂 there’s a video out there of him and Roy Clark doing Take The A Train... pretty awesome!!

[@wingsofpegasus]

👍☺

[@gangnamstylegrandpa6352]

Gatemouth played American music , Texas style !! What a great icon , blended a style of Blues with Jazz with his own original style . A fantastic fiddle player also, one of my Blues heroes !

[@wingsofpegasus]

👍

[@countfive1511]

Billy Cox (Jimi Hendrix's bass player) is in the studio band.

[@bzbzob]

What a nice fat tone on a Rick. Clarence is so musical and jazzy, just great. Thanks!

[@gregmardon6973]

I never tire of listening to the blues played so well, I was unfamiliar of this guy and am now going to check out some of his other stuff.

[@wingsofpegasus]

Cool!

[@judygarretson3255]

Met Gatemouth in the early 70’s in Colorado. He was a friend of a family member. His playing was every bit as impressive in person. Wish you could have been there, he would have liked you, very much.

[@wingsofpegasus]

Cool!

[@JohnEAdams]

Thanks Gatemouth had a profound influence on my love for the blues and playing!

[@wingsofpegasus]

👍

[@katherinea.rodgers8366]

Love this! Blues are the best! I recognized The Beat sets!

[@wingsofpegasus]

👍

[@ADGreen-es6hm]

Playing the Ric , Clarence owns it , Rock On

[@wingsofpegasus]

👍

[@gibsontown1]

Great performance by one of my favorite players.

[@wingsofpegasus]

👍

[@tommytacoma8247]

Watching Hee Haw and Gatemouth showed up !! I remember everything about that day !! Man that was awesome asking my Dad who he was and said Gatemouth Brown !!

[@wingsofpegasus]

Cool!

[@louied2613]

Gatemouth one of my favorites. Thanks Fil . Insightful video again .

[@wingsofpegasus]

👍☺

[@guysmalley]

Outstanding player, no need for distortion when you play like this, thanks fil

[@wingsofpegasus]

👍☺

[@eddietruly8807]

Love Ole Gatemouth, He was probably the Only blues man too jam on a Rick and man he makes it wail !!!!! Clarence was the man on the scene for "Jump Vlues" in the late 50's and 60's carrying the mantel for Big Joe Turner.... and then on into country blues , jazz and fusion

[@wingsofpegasus]

👍

[@dwaynewladyka577]

I love blues, country and jazz music very much, as well as so many other styles of music. I like Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, because he can do all those three styles very well, and seemingly so effortlessly. He also plays the fiddle and is a great singer. May he rest in peace. Cheers Fil!

[@wingsofpegasus]

No problem!

[@basura2001]

Thx for the breakdown. The!!!Beat actually comes first on the TV timeline. Hee Haw was a country music version of Rowan and Martin's 'Laugh-In' which eventuated a few years later.

[@tonymango1121]

that's guitar playing there I grew up listening to that a real blessing

[@wingsofpegasus]

👍

[@frankscarborough1428]

Love him just recently ran across him on KZbin. So happy I did. Thanks for your analysis always learn something.

[@RawOlympia]

Good morning, lovin' it ~ enjoy your rockin' bluesy day! Thnx!

[@wingsofpegasus]

👍

[@Gatesgirl79]

This was my dad and someone shared this with me today. I’ve never seen someone analyze his Playing method before. So cool!!!

[@wingsofpegasus]

Thanks! No problem!

[@sh_shino564]

Hey mom 😂😂😂

[@duaneatkinson3604]

Thanks for doing a gatemouth video I like his stuff....rock on brother

[@wingsofpegasus]

👍☺

[@michaelpond6386]

Everyone wanted to play like T-Bone Walker, Gatemouth was a very good guitar player and played what he called American music Texas style. He also played fiddle.

[@Guardducks]

The man played viola, mandolin and drums and naturally guitar.

[@wingsofpegasus]

👍

[@dantean]

Thank you. I'd almost forgotten what a player ol' Gatemouth was.

[@tonym994]

thanx, FIL .really enjoyed this analysis .saw him in Boston once, and many times on TV. but this, I never saw. too cool for school. he played fiddle well, also .he and Roy had a ball together.

[@tonym994]

it's true what his album cover said. 'Gate swings'.

[@jamesschleich629]

fantastic he was!

[@Gtigerclaw]

Clarence was a lot like Clark - they could play anything with a string on it. I saw Clarence once - in one tune,he jumped from a guitar, to a mandolin, to a fiddle, and then did a great harmonica solo. He could also jump from Blues to country to Jazz like flipping the light off and on.

[@wingsofpegasus]

👍

[@scottthomas9181]

Gate has graced my cd collection for many years one of my faves but he hated being called a blues player good one Fil

[@wingsofpegasus]

👍☺

[@grimdrown7293]

thanks once again for wonderful tech info this period had some HAPPY music sure was fun

[@wingsofpegasus]

👍

[@GP2141BC]

Thanks Fil for picking up my suggestion .. your channel led me to glen Campbell, Roy Clark , and finally Gatemouth .

[@wingsofpegasus]

👍☺

[@tonymango1121]

We were rocking and rolling yeah that was rock and roll

[@wingsofpegasus]

☺🤘

[@SKB1955]

Playing with his fingers! It’s so interesting seeing how he holds the low strings as you say with his thumb. ! And the use of the capo! So cool. Another one I have never heard of ! Thanks Fil!

[@pauljohnson7382]

Gatemouths playing looks effortless and so laid back. Doesn't seem fair that he can play so well and not make the "strained pained" face! Rock On Fil! 🤘

[@wingsofpegasus]

🤘

[@michaelnettles2570]

Saw him perform with Roy Clark on Austin City Limits around 1980. He was playing a Firebird at the time.

[@wingsofpegasus]

Cool!

[@paulco4145]

As always, love your analysis Fil!!!

[@wingsofpegasus]

Thanks Paul!

[@andrew_owens7680]

I saw Gatemouth Brown in Greenville, NC in 1982. It was a small venue and I'll never forget it. Dixie Dregs played the same place. If you never heard of Dixie Dregs, you don't know guitar.

[@briannewell6064]

Wow! That was fun. On a Rick no less.

[@wingsofpegasus]

👍

[@juantailor]

Cool guitar. I believe SRV played a similar RIck at one point, i wonder if this is why.

[@wingsofpegasus]

Possibly!

[@sm1164]

Maybe, but I think that may be due to Hubert Sumlin, who played a Rickenbacker at some point in the '70s or '80s and played at Antone's in Austin, TX in those years. I think SRV may have been playing Sumlin's Rickenbacker at that time.

[@juantailor]

sm1164 that sounds a bit more feasible. Thanks!

[@bobbybabylon1385]

He played guitar, violin, bass, electric fiddle, harmonica, mandolin, and viola. I saw him play live with Canned Heat in Montreal.

[@wagstaff6135]

This is so great to see... Clarence got much more "strange" later, and he played fiddle supremely well, too (don't actually know if he was already doing that in the mid 60s)... I know Zappa was huge admirer, too. I was lucky enough to see him live a couple times in the 90s. Always loved Gatemouth!

[@wingsofpegasus]

Cool!

[@danielschaeffer1294]

Zappa knew music!

[@TomParmenter]

@@danielschaeffer1294 Frank was also a loyal west coaster!

[@My2ndnephew]

Oh, C'mon Fil! Go-Go girls! I remember that in the 60s the Whiskey-A-Go-Go on Sunset Strip in Hollywood had the best music and the best Go-Go dancers, different time, fun time.

[@wingsofpegasus]

😂

[@74dartman13]

It's always great to watch how people play. So many different styles.👍😎🎸🎶

[@wingsofpegasus]

👍☺

[@stargazer1460]

Thanks for another informative and entertaining video 👍😎

[@wingsofpegasus]

👍☺

[@johnnycashmiller288]

Great video,phil,you should see him play the harmonica blues master.he is good fiddle player to amazing.

[@wingsofpegasus]

👍☺

[@joejones4237]

Like tom Cruise once said , He had me at Hello ) No big loud amps , big delays ,huge verb . Just talent

[@wingsofpegasus]

👍😂

[@flamencoprof]

Have a look at "Mississippi Fred McDowell - Shake 'Em On Down". Well filmed and lots of technique to react to!

[@wingsofpegasus]

Thanks!

[@iamTW64]

I enjoyed your explanation of Clarence 'Gatemouth' Brown's technique as much as I did listening to his awesome playing. Great video! 👍🏽

[@richeaton7436]

... "'Cause there's places That I've never been to Sunsets to be ridden into Not a lot I can do But give in to the drifter There's a drifter in me" RIP, Gate. Thanks.

[@wingsofpegasus]

Amen.

[@9wenwilson210]

what girl ? great vintage clip ! thanks Fil, really been enjoying your analysis picks lately !!

[@wingsofpegasus]

👍☺

[@luisvillarreal5262]

I love his head bobbin' as he plays. Even the guy in the horn section can't be still. Got a bluesy bebop sound I really like.

[@wingsofpegasus]

👍

[@cadilacslim]

I also saw Ronnie Earl do this song with guitar behind his head!

[@duaneatkinson3604]

You a great job I learned stuff I didn't know about him great job✌

[@wingsofpegasus]

👍☺

[@fccrick]

Frank Zappa also calls out Clarence as on of his influences on guitar...

[@wingsofpegasus]

👍

[@richardmilner8469]

Great job in promoting the best in Americana, or roots, music! Most of us know that it traces back to the British isles, but still, I'm surprised and grateful that an English bloke is a fan of some of the best of this musical tradition. You have a new fan.

[@wingsofpegasus]

👍☺

[@danielschaeffer1294]

Actually the Brits in the sixties were just modernizing what they'd learned from American records, and they ALL admitted it!

[@beverlybassitt5181]

WOW!! Love it!

[@wingsofpegasus]

👍☺

[@redshield3296]

Very fun music! I love it

[@wingsofpegasus]

👍☺

[@redshield3296]

Wings of Pegasus I found a musician on the Internet! He is a nobody, but the smoothest guitarist I’ve ever heard. This video only has 203 views. 20 or more of them are from me. I contacted the girl that left him a post, and she said he is an artist she knows that lives on Miami Beach. All the photography and art in this video is work he did of his deceased wife Dorian. If you ever want to do a show of nobodies out there, I recommend this guy! Your videos are awesome BTW. kzbin.info/www/bejne/l5DGn52hl5uIn8k

[@barrycohen311]

I hear a lot of T-bone Walker influence. Very cool swing/jump style blues.

[@wingsofpegasus]

👍

[@TK-fk4po]

I remember seeing him in the mid 90’s in a small venue in Philadelphia. It was fantastic.

[@wingsofpegasus]

Cool!

[@likhound]

I've always enjoyed GateMouth Browns picking . Thanks for featuring this cool video.

[@wingsofpegasus]

👍☺

[@terrylacey2144]

Another great vid Phil great job !!

[@wingsofpegasus]

Thanks!

[@jporter504]

Nice history lesson along with the entertainment.

[@wingsofpegasus]

👍

[@jamesha175]

dancing girl is awesome

[@wingsofpegasus]

👍

[@mikeskidmore6754]

Hey @Wings of Pegasus I really enjoy your video commentaries highlighting various musicians .. I always wonder about the Controversy which brands of guitars and types models ect are good or bad or different or why so .. I do know a Gibson may have a lot different sound than a Fender for example .. I am in the middle of this video where you point out Rickenbacker ect.. So yes I always wonder how much the actual instrument plays into each type of sound and style .. ??

[@scotth3354]

Glad to see you do a video on this great, but under appreciated artist. One thing, though, should you do another... you’re the only person I’ve ever refer to him as Clarence. In most circles, he was Gatemouth, or Gate.

[@wingsofpegasus]

👍☺

[@djfingersflores]

i love your commentary on all these videos, great job man. . .

[@sbardellajulio3114]

🤘🤘🤘 great video 🤘🤘🤘 that's real history 👍 talented guitarist maybe unic 🤘

[@wingsofpegasus]

👍☺

[@drewpall2598]

This is a cool performance by Clarence, and the band. He seen to be getting into that piece! it wouldn't be the mid 1960s without "Go-Go Dancers" another enjoyable analysis Fil.

[@wingsofpegasus]

Thanks Drew!

[@CARNELIANTURQUOISE]

Thank you once again for a great video of a great, fun player!!

[@wingsofpegasus]

👍☺

[@Voirreydirector]

Very cool. Glen Campbell often mimicked that capo work, just about exact, but Clarence was probably was the root of it.

[@wingsofpegasus]

👍

[@SeemsFutileNow]

Awesome

[@wingsofpegasus]

👍

[@steveheck4348]

Clarence was such a great guy. He liked to smoke pipes and had his own pipe tobacco he sold at concerts. Also played fiddle.

[@Craig_Fussell]

Tone REALLY is in the hands, regardless of the guitar manufacturer, amp settings etc. huh? Thanks for helping keep all of these artists out there for everyone to enjoy man! 🙂🤙🏻🎸

[@wingsofpegasus]

👍☺

[@bthor76]

As good as he was he was always broke. I worked at a radio station in New Orleans and one of the DJ’s was complaining to us about Gatemouth calling him up late at night wanting to borrow money. My dad also vaguely knew him. My dad owned a laundromat in Slidell, Louisiana and employed a black lady to do wash and fold amongst other little Knick knack things and Gatemouth was always hanging around the laundromat trying to get next to her.

[@wingsofpegasus]

Nice!

[@mariorabottini5687]

Haven’t heard of him Fil! Man the guy can play. Really interesting right hand...unique! Love they way puts a swing groove on the blues and his sound is brilliant!! Quality plus! Thanks Fil great analysis!😀😀👌👌

[@wingsofpegasus]

👍☺