Dave Bartholomew's funeral will take place. Photo by Kim Welsh

Dave Bartholomew funeral set for July 8, a Blue Monday

At 100 years old, Dave Bartholomew passed away after one hell of a century. The “architect of the New Orleans sound,” a trumpeter, songwriter, arranger and producer died on June 23.

The family has announced public memorial plans for the late icon. On Monday, July 8, there will be a public visitation from 9 a.m. until 11:45 a.m. at St. Gabriel the Archangel Roman Catholic Church (4700 Pineda Street at Louisa St, New Orleans). This will be followed by a public mass, from 12 p.m. until 1 p.m. Interment will be private. The familyrequests that in lieu of flowers, contributions in Dave Bartholomew’s memory be made to Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans (866) 891-2210.

A New Orleans music legend, Bartholomew was the moving force behind the career of Fats Domino, a collaborative relationship that began in 1949.   Bartholomew was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1998 and received a Grammy Trustees Award in 2014, and was the recipient of the OffBeat Magazine’s Lifetime Achievement Award in Music in 2010. He was also proclaimed a “Master of Louisiana Music” by OffBeat.

Bartholomew was the moving force behind the career of Fats Domino and worked with legendary performers Lloyd Price, Smiley Lewis, Shirley & Lee, and many more, and collaborated with Cosimo Matassa, famed for his work on New Orleans R&B tracks of the 50s and 60s.

A family spokesperson tells OffBeat there will be a musical tribute “at some point,” but it has yet to be arranged.