Honoring Blues Legend 'Gatemouth' Moore

HONORING BLUES LEGEND "GATEMOUTH" MOORE -- (Extensions of Remarks - April 30, 2004)

SPEECH OF
HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON
OF MISSISSIPPI
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2004

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize an African-American pioneer, 90-year-old blues singer Rev. Arnold Dwight "Gatemouth" Moore.

Nicknamed "Gatemouth" because of his loud singing and speaking voice, Arnold Dwight Moore paved the way for blues. As a boy growing up on world famous Beale Street in Memphis, TN, he was influenced by the African-American culture and heritage that made up the streets and music that was a result of the day to day existence of individuals who lived there. The pride of Beale Street and student of blues was a vocalist at the Elk's, better known as the Blues Bowl.

Moore recorded his first record in 1941 and wrote such songs as "Somebody's Got to Go," "I Ain't Mad at You," "Pretty Baby," and "Did You Ever Love a Woman?" which was later recorded by B.B. King and Rufus Thomas.
Gatemouth lead the way for blues through his firsts. Moore was the first blues singer to sing at Carnegie Hall; the first to travel with W.C. Handy to New York City; first to sing at the segregated Peabody Hotel's Roof Garden; first to sing in many halls around the country, including The Apollo in New York, The Regal in Chicago, the Chicago Civic Center, The Music Hall in Detroit, the Howard Theatre in Washington, DC, and The Royal in Baltimore, MD.
Arnold Dwight "Gatemouth" Moore, listed in the Who's Who in Blues in America, is much more than one of the many blues singers throughout history. He is a true legendary pioneer of blues.

END