Dave Bartholomew Net Worth, Relationships, Age/Birthdate & Birthday Facts

Dave Bartholomew Net Worth, Relationships, Age/Birthdate & Birthday

Dave Bartholomew is an American musician, bandleader and songwriter recognized for helping shape New Orleans R&B and the early rock ’n’ roll sound.

Introduction

Dave Bartholomew, born December 24, 1918, in Edgard, Louisiana, emerged from the Deep South to help drive a seismic shift in American music. As a trumpeter-bandleader, songwriter, arranger and record producer, his fingerprints remain on early rock ’n’ roll and rhythm-and-blues, especially through his prolific partnership with Fats Domino. Though many of his peers amassed considerable fortunes, Bartholomew’s estimated net worth is modest — around $1 million according to one source. 
In terms of personal life and relationships, Bartholomew married songwriter Pearl King in 1942 and, after her death, remarried Rhea Douse. His birthday (December 24) and age/birthdate facts anchor a career that spans decades and genres.

Quick Facts

The Journey from River-Town to Rhythm Revolution

Raised on the Mississippi riverbank in Edgard, Louisiana, Bartholomew entered a musical lineage: his father Louis played bass horn and tuba in local bands.  Young David first learned tuba, then switched to trumpet under the tutelage of Peter Davis — the same teacher who instructed Louis Armstrong. 
In his teens, he moved with his family to New Orleans. He played in brass bands, river-boat gigs and local jazz orchestras.  After serving in the U.S. Army during World War II, where he honed arranging skills in the 196th Army Band, he returned to New Orleans in 1945 and formed his own dance band, the Dew Droppers. 
By the late 1940s he was recording for De Luxe and then working as A&R talent-scout and producer for Imperial Records in New Orleans. His collaboration with Fats Domino—co-writing and producing hits like “Ain’t That a Shame”, “Blue Monday” and “I’m Walkin’”—helped take the New Orleans sound national. 
Defining moments in Dave Bartholomew’s journey include:

• Leading the Dew Droppers shortly after returning from military service.

• Becoming A&R and house arranger for Imperial Records in New Orleans and launching Fats Domino’s career.

• Co-writing and producing landmark tracks (“The Fat Man”, “Blue Monday”, “Walking to New Orleans”) that bridged R&B and rock ’n’ roll.

• Founding his own label (Broadmoor) and later shifting into Dixieland and jazz revival work in the 1970s-80s.

• Induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (1991) and Songwriters Hall of Fame recognition. 

Core Pillars of Wealth

The core pillars of Dave Bartholomew’s wealth include:

• Songwriting and publishing royalties – His extensive back catalogue generated long-term income streams from licensing and cover versions.

• Production and arranging fees – His studio work as a composer/arranger for major label acts provided steady professional income.

• Live performance and touring – Leading bands and performing at festivals, especially later in his career, contributed to earnings albeit on a moderate scale.

• Label/ownership stake – While his own label (Broadmoor) had limited commercial success, ownership of masters and publishing likely added residual value.

Relationships & Family Life

Dave Bartholomew’s personal life was grounded in family and long-standing partnerships.
He first married songwriter Pearl King in 1942, and she is credited as co-writer on a number of his compositions.  After her death in 1967, he married Rhea Douse; together they raised a blended family of eight children.
Key insights into Dave Bartholomew’s relationships and personal life:

• The union with Pearl King reflected a creative partnership as well as a marital one—her name appears on co-writing credits.

• His marriage to Rhea Douse spanned decades and provided a stable home base in New Orleans even as his career evolved.

• He was father to multiple children and grandfather to many—his legacy continues through his family’s stewardship of his music.

• Though career demands were significant, his family remembers him as a committed father who emphasized high standards, discipline, respect and musical integrity. 

Lifestyle, Assets & Interests

Beyond career success, Dave Bartholomew led a lifestyle that reflects both passion and purpose, including:

• A lifelong residence and identity anchored in New Orleans — home, studios, family life all tied to the city’s musical ecosystem.

• Collecting and preserving the culture of New Orleans: brass-band lineage, parade traditions, Dixieland revival circuits.

• Advocating for musicians’ rights: Bartholomew often stressed the importance of publishing and ownership of masters—unusual for many early R&B artists. 

• Despite modest publicized net worth, he received high-end rewards: e.g., recounting selecting a Cadillac Eldorado after a hit record shipment. 

Net Worth Breakdown & Analysis

Evaluating Dave Bartholomew’s net worth involves piecing together limited data and legacy income sources. While mainstream outlets such as Forbes or Bloomberg do not publicly list detailed figures, one widely cited estimate (CelebrityNetWorth) places his net worth at $1 million. 
Here is a rough breakdown combining available estimates:

Analysis:

• Among early rock and R&B pioneers, Bartholomew’s wealth may appear modest. This reflects industry realities: African-American musicians historically faced major obstacles in rights ownership and publishing.

• However, his emphasis on publishing and ownership distinguishes him—he was ahead of his era in monetizing music behind the scenes. 

• His income streams likely extended over decades, though without blockbuster commercial wealth; instead his legacy is more cultural and creative than purely financial.

Public Image, Legacy & Influence

Dave Bartholomew is widely regarded as one of the architects of the rock ’n’ roll era and the New Orleans sound. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inducted him in the non-performer category in 1991, citing his influence on jump-blues to R&B transition. 
His legacy is multifaceted:

• As co-writer/producer of Fats Domino’s major crossover hits, he helped open doors for Black musicians in mainstream pop charts.

• His rigorous band-leadership style and studio discipline became models for New Orleans session work.

• Among fans and musicians he is respected not just for the hits, but for his integrity, mentorship, and willingness to fight for musicians’ rights.

• His birthday (December 24) continues to be celebrated in music circles, especially in New Orleans, as a key moment in the city’s musical calendar. 
  Public image wise, Bartholomew strikes a balance: not a flamboyant star, but a steady, behind-the-scenes powerhouse whose personal life (family-centered, grounded) underscored his musical mission.

Conclusion

From his birthdate of December 24, 1918, Dave Bartholomew charted a course from Edgard, Louisiana-based brass bands to international recognition as a rock ’n’ roll pioneer. His estimated net worth of around $1 million may not reflect blockbuster wealth, but the cultural dividends of his work are immeasurable. In his relationships — marrying Pearl King, later Rhea Douse — and in his commitment to family and craft, his personal life echoed his professional ethos: discipline, creativity, and integrity. His birthday marks not just another December day, but a celebration of one man’s enduring imprint on American music. In the end, Dave Bartholomew’s true legacy may be summed up in one enduring truth: wealth comes in many currencies, and his is measured in the heartbeat of New Orleans rhythm and the first chords of rock ’n’ roll worldwide.