Radiators Collection
I’ve been spending the past couple of months wading through many boxes of Camile’s [Boudin] and my memorabilia. I’m now in the last sorting stage, editing down our own collection and readying materials to go to David Kunian’s new archives [at the New Orleans Jazz Museum at the Old U.S. Mint].
The pile marked “Media Coverage” is quite high, and much of the local press over the many years of the Radiators—indeed, the lion’s share—came from OffBeat. Seen in retrospect, and all of a piece, it’s impressive in quantity, depth and quality. Older articles provide primary documentation of the Radiators’ development and stalwart resilience amidst disco, country, the ’90s, and other cultural assaults. Newer pieces remind the reader of the band’s contributions to the New Orleans (and American) musical canon. This is an especially important service in the context of today’s fluid musical scene.
Thanks to you both for all you’ve done for Camile, for the band, and for New Orleans music. Like Zeke says, “down with history, up with mystery.”
—Missy Bowen, New Orleans, Louisiana
Favorite Festival
Your magazine put out an article on Festivals Acadiens et Créoles celebrating its 42nd year.
The photo shows people dancing at the festival with the sun in the background. In the center of the picture is a man wearing a cowboy hat dancing with a girl with long hair looking down at his feet. I’m the girl dancing with the guy, who is my husband. Our names are Brian and Linda Simons. All my friends said to contact you and ask it I could have a jpeg or something I can print out and frame. Festivals Acadiens et Créoles is our favorite festival. We go every year and meet up with people from all over.
—Linda Simons, Lafayette, Louisiana
Pete Fountain
I was lucky to receive your magazine with the great story about Pete Fountain.
I became the 28th member of the Half-Fast Walking Club and had to come up with 50 bucks which was a bit of money in 1964. I met Pete at a bar called The Velvet Swing where the club had its meetings. I stuck out my hand and said, “Thanks Mr. Fountain for letting me in your club.” He said, “Rick, my dad’s Mr. Fountain, I’m Pete.” My life changed right at that moment.
Things were pretty loose for the first few years, only a couple of meetings a year. But by 1966 we had more members and we brought in the first doubloons which we called Picayunes.
Problems began with the wives of some of the members and we lost some. So we started things to include wives and kids. A huge Christmas party and picnics at Pete’s ranch in the summer helped. They later started a club, Wives of the Half-Fast.
In 1970 I decided to move to Las Vegas. I returned many years to walk but it wasn’t the same. I was an out-of-towner and was no longer involved in the day-to-day part of the club. I think I missed that part the most.
The club had grown with 250 members and I only know 5 or 6 from the old days and now Pete’s gone. What a blow. When I received the call I couldn’t believe it or I didn’t want to—the musical heart of New Orleans. I flew home for the funeral; they were not going to bury him without me. I had hung up my walking shoes a couple of years ago but I did the second line down Royal Street and couldn’t believe the crowds and the love the city showed him. It brought tears to my eyes. He was the man. Nothing was too much trouble if you were his friend. Whatever you would ask he would say “Ask me something hard next time.” Sometimes he would call and say “Just wanna tell you I love you.” That was Pete, the kid from the shotgun house on White Street. I will miss him, the world of music and the City of New Orleans.
Thanks for writing about him in your magazine. It was special.
—Richard Totter, Las Vegas, Nevada
Correction
Our headline for Playlist in the October 2016 issue, “Ten Songs You Didn’t Know Were Recorded in New Orleans,” was obviously a blunder since the article points out that several were recorded in Bogalusa.—Ed.
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