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Friday, November 13, 2026Nov 13

The Latest: New Orleans remembers Pete Fountain

FILE - In this Feb. 16, 2010 file photo, Pete Fountain gives a toast as he leads his Half Fast Walking Club through the streets of New Orleans.  Fountain, whose recording of "Just a Closer Walk With Thee" became the unofficial anthem for traditional New Orleans jazz, has died. He was 86. Fountain's son-in-law and manager Benny Harrell said Fountain died Saturday, Aug. 6, 2016 of heart failure. He had been in hospice care in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Bill Haber)
FILE - In this Feb. 16, 2010 file photo, Pete Fountain gives a toast as he leads his Half Fast Walking Club through the streets of New Orleans. Fountain, whose recording of "Just a Closer Walk With Thee" became the unofficial anthem for traditional New Orleans jazz, has died. He was 86. Fountain's son-in-law and manager Benny Harrell said Fountain died Saturday, Aug. 6, 2016 of heart failure. He had been in hospice care in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Bill Haber)

NEW ORLEANS (AP) – The Latest on the death of jazz clarinetist Pete Fountain of New Orleans at the age of 86 (all times local):

2:30 p.m.

New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu is remembering clarinetist Pete Fountain as “an inspiring performer whose unmistakable sound” defines the city’s cultural heritage.

Fountain died Saturday morning of heart failure at age 86.

The loss was marked at the city’s annual Satchmo Summerfest, a festival honoring the memory of another New Orleans jazz icon, Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong.