Double Bayou Dance Hall (October 19, 2002) — Image by kenne
Down the road from Jackson’s Grocery the blues was hangin’ on the hot, humid breeze at Pete’s place where Bar-B-Q was served on white bread off the back of an old pick-up truck.
On weekends the blues would be swinging through the tall gulf coast pines of southeast Texas attracting outsiders from Houston to hear Pete sing and play The Blues at the Double Bayou.
By chance the life of Pete and the dance hall ended in 2008 — Hurricane Ike destroyed the dancehall in September, and after years of poor health, Pete passed away the following December. He was 70 — for Pete’s sake!
Pete Mayes, Grady Gaines, Calvin Owens and Joe ‘Guitar’ Hughes at Billy Blues, June, 2000 — Image by kenne
For years, Sunday morning has been about the Blues, listening to Mr. & Mrs. V on KPFT, Houston. Thanks to Internet streaming, the Sunday morning tradition continues.
While listening this morning, I was going through some of my digital image files when I ran across these old black & white images I had scanned in 2010, which led me to start flipping through one of the best references on Houston blues, “Down in Houston – Bayou City Blues by Roger Wood. Of the four blues musicians in these images, Grady Gaines is the only one still with us. However, thanks to technology and radio personalities like Mr. & Mrs. V in Houston and Marty Kool (KXCI) in Tucson, their music is still with us — some of the best blues anywhere! Take the time to enjoy and share so this great music genre will always be alive and in the hearts of music lovers everywhere.
Full moon rising at the end of the road. The still thick air clings to our sweaty skins, Big drops roll down the curve in my back, We follow the music coming from down the road.
The shadows of others reflected in the moonlight, Drawn by the heavy blues, thicken by the air, More real than ever in the old tin shack, In the Double Bayou Dance Hall’s 61st wind-blown year.
Blues lovers started coming in the 1940’s Creating generations of followers Captured by the feeling of the blues Returning often, or at least on Christmas Day.
Now standing badly damaged by hurricane Ike, Surrounded by overgrown weeds and storm debris, Yet inside the house still rocks By the ghost of Pete Mayes and his House Rockers.
(This was written about one of our visits to the Double Bayou Dance Hall, Christmas Day, 2002. Hurricane Ike came through September 13, 2008.)
Sweet Mama Cotton with Pete Mayes & The Texas Houserockers at The Double Bayou Dance Hall — Image by kenne
This revisit came about by an email I receive yesterday from Sheryl Shaw, who is with the Chambers County historical commission. They are gathering photos and memorabilia from Double Bayou Dance Hall and Pete Mayes and the Texas Houserockers for exhibiting at the museum. She requested use of the video of photos I a short time after Pete’s passing away, which would be an honor for it to be a part of the exhibited.
For the uninitiated, The Double Bayou Dance Hall, in the small black community of Double Bayou in Chambers County sixty miles east of Houston. I dedicated to the memory of Pete Mayes and Billie Dietz. It was through Art and Billie Dietz that we learned about the Double Bayou Dance Hall. Steve Bucher also educated me on Dance Hall. The old Double Bayou Dance Hall still exist, but barely since hurricane Ike played hell with the 1941 structure. As secretary for the historical commission, Sheryl is helping to renew interest in restoring the dance hall. If you would like to learn more about their efforts, you can contact Sheryl at Dunkit42@aol.com.
Pete Mayes and John Broussard at the Double Bayou Dance Hall — Image by kenne
Yesterday I was reminded how much we miss not having Pete Mayes around any more, because of a comment I received on a video I placed on YourTube after his death December 17, 2008. (Click on the date for a link to Andrew Dansby excellent article on Pete’s death.) The video is something I put together of photos I had taken on several occasions at the Double Bayou Dance Hall, owned by Pete.
In an earlier article by Dansby, Pete was asked what makes Texas blues Texas blues, and he replied, “Texas blues swings,” he says. “Do you understand what I mean? Chicago blues, they beat you over the head with the beat. Boom boom boom boom. Yes, yes.”
When the Friends of the Blues – Montgomery County started the Blues Series at Montgomery College (now Lone Star College – Montgomery), we were very interested in getting Pete Mayes out for an evening. Even though Pete’s good friend, Art Dietz was a member of the FOB, Pete’s health, and the need for someone to drive him, made the logistics for Pete’s participation very problematic. (The Blues Series was scheduled each semester from the spring of 2000 to the spring of 2003.) Although he didn’t appear in the series, Art did see that Pete was part of the 10th Anniversary community celebration of the opening of the Montgomery College campus in August of 2005.
Most people who love Pete Mayes know that the best place to experience Pete and his music was at his place, the Double Bayou Dance Hall, near Anahuac, Texas. We were fortunate to see Pete several times at the Dance Hall. Pete and his live music will be missed. You can read more about Pete at the following sites:
In the just-published “The Rise of A Contemporary Sound – Texas Blues,” by Alan Govenar, Pete wrote:
“The blues is the truth. If you start doing blues and there’s something about it that isn’t true, there’s no way for you to sell it to the people. If you’re telling the truth, the people can feel it, but if you’re telling a bunch of lies, it’s not going to work too well.”
Double Bayou Dancehall (October 19, 2002) — Photo-Artistry by kenne
Double Bayou Dance Hall (October 19, 2002) — Image by kenne
Bayou Blues (Pete Mayes and John Broussard at Double Bayou Dance Hall, May, 2003) — Computer Painting by kenne)
Double Bayou Dance Hall (October 19, 2002) — Image by kenne
Pete Mayes, Grady Gaines, Calvin Owens and Joe ‘Guitar’ Hughes at Billy Blues, June, 2000 — Image by kenne
Front Door To Jackson’s Grocery, Double Bayou (The Place), Texas. — Images by kenne
Most people who love Pete Mayes know that the best place to experience Pete and his music was at his place, the Double Bayou Dance Hall, near Anahuac, Texas. We were fortunate to see Pete several times at the Dance Hall. Pete and his live music will be missed. You can read more about Pete at the following sites:
