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Henry Pugh: April 17, 1938 - August 8, 2020

Well-known Montgomery, Alabama musician and educator Henry
Pugh has passed away, former Mayor Todd Strange confirmed.

Pugh, who had recently been sick
and was hospitalized, passed
away Saturday at the age of 83.

The jazz and blues keyboard musician was known for his
weekend shows in his downtown spot Sous La Terre (Underground),
at La Salle Bleu (The Blue Room) and more recently shows on the
stage of Commerce Beerworks.

Pugh was born on April 17, 1938 in his mother’s home at
324 Chandler Street. In 1954, Pugh joined the United
States Air Force where he served four years of active
duty and four years in the Reserves.

Pugh studied music at Alabama State University,

graduating with his masters in 1962. He later taught
music at various schools, including in Central
Lowndes County for 23 years.

In 1978, Pugh bought the Key Hole Club, renaming it
“Sous La Terre” because of its French underground

feel. He played every weekend at the club and hosted
several private events, fundraisers and special
activities throughout the state.

Tee Washington, Pugh's son who lives in Mobile, said Pugh died at about 11:35 a.m. at Baptist
Medical Center South.

On July 23, he had to cut short a performance at downtown Montgomery's Commerce BeerWorks
and was later hospitalized. He was diagnosed with having COVID-19, and later suffered a heart
attack and kidney failure.

"Even with the condition that he was in, we still thought that he was going to pull through,"
Washington said.

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