Stars of the Lawrence Welk Show With Biographies of Cast & Crew
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists
Pete Fountain, Clarinet (1957 - 1959)
Pete Fountain is better known for his jazz nightclub in New Orleans than he is for his performances on the Lawrence Welk Show. However, it was on the Welk Show where he got his start in show business in 1957.
Early Career
Fountain was born in New Orleans in 1930. After graduating from Warren Easton High School in 1948, Fountain (who is heavily influenced by Benny Goodman and Irving Fazola) became a member of the Junior Dixieland Band and this was followed by a stint with Phil Zito and an important association with the Basin Street Six (1950-54) with whom the clarinetist made his first recordings.
In 1955, Fountain played as a member of the Dukes of Dixieland. His big breakthrough came when he was featured playing a featured Dixieland number or two on each episode of The Lawrence Welk Show beginning in 1957 alongside his good friend Al "Jumbo" Hirt. Hirt and Fountain had actually worked together for the same pest control company prior to joining on with the Welk Show. After a couple of years, Pete left the Welk Show, deciding that "champagne and bourbon don't mix." Mahlon Clark replaced Pete Fountain at Clarinet in 1962.
Life After Welk
After he left, he moved back to New Orleans, opened his own club and has played there regularly since.
In the clip below, Pete Fountain plays "Round and Round" with Big Tiny Little on piano and Buddy Hayes on Bass.