N.O. musician Fred Kemp dies

[William A. Morgan]

This appeared in yesterday's New Orleans Times-Picayune:

R&B, JAZZ AND SAX PLAYER FRED KEMP DIES AT 55

Frederic Donald Kemp, a rhythm and blues and jazz saxophonist who led his
own groups and played in Fats Domino's band for three decades, died
Friday (June 6) of cancer at his home. He was 55.

Mr. Kemp was born in New Orleans and lived here most of his life.

He attended Washington Parish High School, Xavier University, Southern
University and the Juilliard School of Music in New York.

In his youth, Mr. Kemp specialized in rhythm and blues. He was a session
player for many records produced by Allen Toussaint, including classic
sides by Lee Dorsey and Irma Thomas. He also toured the "chitlin'
circuit" of backwoods music clubs throughout the Southeast. In the 1960s,
he performed with the Lloyd Price Big Band and the Lastie Brothers.

Mr. Kemp became interested in jazz while studying with Alvin Batiste at
Xavier. Fellow saxophonists Ed Frank, Red Tyler and Charles Neville, who
also moved back and forth between Jazz and Rhythm and Blues, had a great
influence on him. He and drummer Smokey Johnson put together their own
contemporary jazz combo in 1976, and performed several times at the New
Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.

Mr. Kemp also was an accomplished flutist and pianist.

He spent the past 27 years touring on-and-off with R&B legend Fats
Domino's band and appeared on many albums with the group. His own Fred
Kemp Quartet specialized in contemporary jazz. He also operated Kemp's
Lounge, a La Salle Street music club that often featured brass bands.

In addition to his work with Domino, he occasionally played with the
Olympia Brass Band, the Neville Brothers, the Dave Bartholomew Big Band,
Johnny Adams and Marva Wright. He can be heard on the Neville Brothers'
album "Brother's Keeper," Dr. John's "Goin' Back to New Orleans," and
discs by Charles Brown, Davell Crawford, Chuck Carbo and Eddie Bo.
Recently he appeared on the Treme Brass Band's "Gimme My Money Back."

***********************************************************

Bill Morgan