Brian Doty Blair

1961 - 2014

Mr. Brian Doty Blair

Hattiesburg

Brian Doty Blair, 53, died Thursday, October 16, 2014, at Forrest General Hospital, following a lengthy illness. He was born February 12, 1961, to the late Stephen H. Blair, Jr. and Barbara Doty Blair.

A well-known and beloved pianist and entertainer, Brian graduated from S.H. Blair High School and Mississippi State University.

His love for music began with piano lessons at age 8, and from there he began a lifelong journey of playing, arranging, and performing music to delight listeners of all ages. He possessed a repertoire of over 1000 songs, mainly from the 1920s, 30s, and 40s, which he played from memory and in any key. He had an uncanny ability to incorporate piano and vocals with original comic routines and impersonations of legendary entertainers.

One highlight of Brian's career was entertaining at the Mississippi Governor's Mansion during the tenures of former state governors Winter, Mabus, Fordice, and Barbour. He also performed for the retirement of Mississippi State University President, Dr. Donald Zacharias.

Locally, Blair entertained at the Purple Parrot Cafe, Hattiesburg Country Club, directed theatrical productions at USM, and directed and produced the Miss Hattiesburg pageant. He participated in many charity events, including the Red Cross, United Way, and benefits for diabetes and leukemia. Some of his original piano arrangements and advertising jingles were featured on local radio stations. He was voted best area musician for four consecutive years by ballot in The Advertiser News.

In 1986 billboards announced the release of his first album, followed by three cassettes and two compact discs. These highly popular releases were offered in local businesses and featured piano compositions, vocals, guest vocalists and instrumentals, all selected, arranged and recorded by Blair.

Brian brought together over 20 talented local performers and musicians to put on highly successful benefit concerts for the American Cancer Society and the American Heart Association in 1998 and 2000. His role included writer, producer, director, and accompanist.

Blair travelled all over the state, playing in pageants, shows, weddings, and private parties. In his last years, despite his illness, he never passed up an opportunity to gather around a piano to play and sing. He was recently honored by the Hattiesburg Arts Council with a program entitled "A Song in My Heart -A Tribute to Brian Blair."

Services will be held at 11 a.m., Wednesday, October 22, 2014 at First Presbyterian Church, with the Rev. Norman Bagby officiating. Burial will be in Roseland Park Cemetery. Moore Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his grandparents, Stephen H. Blair, Sr. and Marguerite Blair of Hattiesburg, and Thomas and LaVerge Doty of Lucedale.

Survivors include one brother, Stephen H. Blair (Cindy) of Corinth; two nieces, Valerie Blair of Houston, TX, and Amanda Blair of Corinth; one nephew Evan Blair of Flowood; numerous aunts, uncles, many cousins, and a host of friends and fellow musicians.

Visitation will be held from 6-8 pm Tuesday, October 21, at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Brian Blair Endowment Fund, c/o Hattiesburg Arts Council, P. O. Box 693, Hattiesburg, MS 39403.