Senate Resolution 13

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE LIFE OF LEGENDARY BLUESMAN AND MUSIC HERITAGE PIONEER, REVEREND ARNOLD DWIGHT "GATEMOUTH" MOORE, AND EXPRESSING THE SYMPATHY OF THE SENATE.

WHEREAS, Blues Artist Arnold Dwight "Gatemouth" Moore, who honed his blues talents in Kansas City and Memphis but later walked away from his career to preach the Gospel, died on May 19, 2004, in Yazoo City, Mississippi, at 90 years of age; and

WHEREAS, he was known for several blues hits, among them, "Did you Ever Love a Woman?", a song later recorded by B.B. King and Rufus Thomas; and

WHEREAS, at the time of his death, Moore was Pastor of the Lintonia A.M.E. Church in Yazoo City. Survivors include his wife, Walterine C. Moore; and

WHEREAS, he was born on November 8, 1913, in Topeka, Kansas. Moore said he earned his nickname because of his loud singing and speaking voice. His family moved to Memphis, where he graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in 1938; and

WHEREAS, at the age of 16, Moore went to Kansas City, where he sang with the bands of Bennie Moten, Tommy Douglas and Walter Barnes. Moore was with Walter Barnes and his orchestra for a performance in Natchez in April 1940 and survived the fire which broke out at the Rhythm Night Club. Barnes and other members of the orchestra died in the fire; and

WHEREAS, he returned to Kansas City in 1941, where he recorded his first record, writing and performing "Somebody's Got To Go" and "I Ain't Mad At You Pretty Baby"; and

WHEREAS, Chuck Haddox, with the University of Missouri in Kansas City, said Moore was performing in 1949 in Chicago when he left the stage and "never returned to secular music." Moore, in interviews, said he had undergone a religious conversion and sang only Gospel songs thereafter. Later that year, Moore was ordained at the First Church of Deliverance in Chicago; and

WHEREAS, he was also featured in Martin Scorsese's PBS Blues series, singing that song as he strolled down the Memphis street. In recent years, Moore occasionally played festivals; and

WHEREAS, with dazzling perseverance, Arnold Dwight "Gatemouth" Moore again and again broke new ground, remaining at the forefront as one of Mississippi's greatest pioneers, and it is with sadness that we note the passing of this artist and preacher who brought inspiration to his congregation, his community and to the State of Mississippi:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend the life of Bluesman and Music Heritage Pioneer Reverend Arnold Dwight "Gatemouth" Moore, Pastor of Lintonia A.M.E. Church in Yazoo City, Mississippi, and express to his surviving wife, Walterine C. Moore, and his family the sympathy of the Senate on his passing.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Walterine C. Moore and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.