Rock ‘n’ roll pioneer Dave Bartholomew laid to rest

The Associated Press

5 years ago

Pallbearers carry the coffin of Dave Bartholomew past the Treme brass band as they exit St. Gab ... — Pallbearers carry the coffin of Dave Bartholomew past the Treme brass band as they exit St. Gabriel the Archangel Church at the conclusion of his funeral in New Orleans, La. Monday, July 8, 2019. The life of Dave Bartholomew, a trumpeter, bandleader, producer, arranger, composer and star-maker of Fats Domino, Lloyd Price and many other New Orleans talents, was celebrated with prayers, tributes, brass bands and dancing. He died at 100 years of age on June 23. (Max Becherer/Times-Picayune via AP)

Deacon John Moore touches his friend for the last time during the viewing of Dave Bartholomew at St. Gabriel the Archangel Church in New Orleans, La. Monday, July 8, 2019. The life of Dave Bartholomew, a trumpeter, bandleader, producer, arranger, composer and star-maker of Fats Domino, Lloyd Price and many other New Orleans talents, was celebrated with prayers, tributes, brass bands and dancing. He died at 100 years of age on June 23. (Max Becherer/The Advocate via AP)

Don Bartholomew Jr., with son Lyric, looks at the body of Dave Bartholomew during the viewing at St. Gabriel the Archangel Church in New Orleans, La. Monday, July 8, 2019. The life of Dave Bartholomew, a trumpeter, bandleader, producer, arranger, composer and star-maker of Fats Domino, Lloyd Price and many other New Orleans talents, was celebrated with prayers, tributes, brass bands and dancing. He died at 100 years of age on June 23. (Max Becherer/The Advocate via AP)

The Treme brass band and attendees dance after pallbearers carried the coffin of Dave Bartholomew out of St. Gabriel the Archangel Church at the conclusion of his funeral in New Orleans, La. Monday, July 8, 2019. The life of Dave Bartholomew, a trumpeter, bandleader, producer, arranger, composer and star-maker of Fats Domino, Lloyd Price and many other New Orleans talents, was celebrated with prayers, tributes, brass bands and dancing. He died at 100 years of age on June 23. (Max Becherer/The Advocate via AP)

FILE – In a Dec. 10, 1999 file photo, Fats Domino, center right, shakes hands with Dave Bartholomew, right, amid a crowd of former colleagues at the 50th anniversary observance of Domino’s first recording session in New Orleans. Bartholomew, a giant of New Orleans music and a rock n’ roll pioneer who with Fats Domino co-wrote and produced such classics as "Ain’t That a Shame," ”I’m Walkin’" and "Let the Four Winds Blow," died Sunday, June 23, 2019 in a hospital in a New Orleans suburb, his eldest son Dave Bartholomew Jr. told The Associated Press. He was 100 years old. (Jennifer Zdon/The Times-Picayune via AP, File)

NEW ORLEANS — Hundreds of family members, friends, fans and fellow musicians gathered in New Orleans Monday to bid farewell to rock ‘n’ roll pioneer Dave Bartholomew.

A trumpet-shaped flower arrangement stood next to the open casket at the music-filled service at St. Gabriel the Archangel Church, The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate reported. Musicians who came to pay their respects included Robin Barnes, Kermit Ruffins, Al “Carnival Time” Johnson, Charles Moore, Irvin Mayfield, Ivan Neville and Dr. Brice Miller, the newspaper reported. Many played in his honor.

Bartholomew was 100 when he died June 23 in a suburban New Orleans hospital.

Along with Fats Domino, Bartholomew co-wrote and produced classics including “Ain’t That a Shame,” ”I’m Walkin’” and “Let the Four Winds Blow.”

Bartholomew was a trumpet player since childhood and a bandleader and arranger before World War II. He befriended Domino in the late 1940s and they collaborated on dozens of hits that captured Domino’s good-natured appeal, made him one of rock’s earliest stars and made New Orleans a popular music center.

Al “Lil Fats” Jackson evoked Domino with a rendition of “Blue Monday” during the visitation, the newspaper reported, and Jon Cleary sang “Someday.”

Despite the restrictions of segregation, Bartholomew rose to become a pop music icon, said the Rev. Tony Ricard, who led the funeral mass and joined in the spirited dancing on the church steps as the crowd followed the casket outside afterward.