Sixth Grade
Worksheets
Pete Fountain
Pete Fountain
Reading Comprehension for July 3
Pete Fountain arrived just in time for the fireworks. He was born July 3, 1930, in New Orleans, Louisiana. He seemed to know from an early age that he would create fireworks of his own someday.
Pierre Dewey LaFontaine, Jr., grew up in the heart of Dixieland jazz. His home was just blocks from the dance halls famous for that New Orleans sound. He loved the music he heard. He knew he wanted to play jazz. Jazz became a part of his being. He learned to play the clarinet. He listened to the music of Benny Goodman and Irving Fazoli. They were clarinet greats. His father changed his name to Peter Dewey Fountain. Jr. did, too.
By the time Pete reached the age of sixteen, he had developed his own sound. He was known everywhere on the street known for its jazz, Bourbon Street. Pete learned his trade by playing for bands like the Junior Dixieland Band. As he grew older, he graduated into the Dixieland Express. It was while playing with this band that Pete met the girl of his dreams, Beverly Lang. She knew she wanted to marry a musician, and Pete knew he was the musician she should marry. They were married in 1951.
