Pete Fountain gives up nightclub

NEW ORLEANS (Jazz news Website) - After 43 years, jazz clarinetist Pete Fountain is bowing out of the New Orleans nightclub business.

Fountain opened his first New Orleans club on Bourbon Street in 1960, but has been playing the last 26 years at the Hilton Riverside club, where he held his finale Friday before 400 mostly invited family and friends.

Fountain, 72, said the time was right to move on, noting the tourist business has been down since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
"I needed a change," Fountain said. "I didn't want it, but I needed it. It's one of those things. Since 9-11, we've seen a lot of people that used to come don't come any more. The club was still making it, but we could see the handwriting on the wall.
It's been a real good ride, and we've still got a lot of riding to do," he said. "I might get off the motorcycle and ride a little scooter now, but it's still a ride."

Fountain said he'll keep playing at private events, as well as at the French Quarter Festival on April 11 and at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival on May 4.