By Reverend Keith A. Gordon, About.com Guide to Blues

It's been nearly eight months since I first wrote about the insults heaped upon the memory of blues legend Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown. First, Hurricane Katrina forced Brown to flee from his Louisiana home and relocate in Orange, Texas, his former hometown. Brown died from lung cancer shortly after losing everything in the storm, including his beloved black 1977 Cadillac.

Buried in Hollywood Cemetery in Orange, the temporary marker on Brown's grave was blown away a couple of weeks after his death by Hurricane Rita. Sadly, Brown's grave remained unmarked until Hurricane Ike devastated the Gulf Coast of Texas. The top of Brown's burial vault was forced off by flood waters, and his bronze casket simply floated away, one of over a dozen to do so. Brown's vault has since been properly re-buried.

Here's the good news: thanks to the efforts of local educator Robert Finch and the state of Texas, Brown's grave will be honored with an official Texas Historical Commission marker, placed in tribute for his contributions to the state. Finch also began a drive to raise money for a proper marker last summer, and the money that he raised – some of it from you great About.com Blues readers – will be used to improve the gravesite and place an elaborate, permanent grave marker. The state marker will take about a year to produce and place on or near Brown's grave.

Better than three-and-a-half years after the death of Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, the American music legend can finally rest in peace.

Very cool, and about time.

The Blues Report