Katrina: Musicians Domino, Thomas, Toussaint Missing or Stranded
Published September 01, 2005
"I loved the piano and played every day, learning to play by ear listening to records and the radio. The piano players I loved best were Professor Longhair, Lloyd Glenn, Albert Ammons, and Ray Charles. I listened to boogie woogie, hillbilly, and my mother loved classical so I heard a lot of that. Our piano was out of tune by a half-tone, so I learned Grieg's Piano Concerto in A minor, in B flat," he chuckles.
When he was 13, Toussaint joined a neighborhood band called the Flamingos (not the doo wop group of the same name) and began to play at dances and socials. A few years later the Flamingos were playing in "joints, maybe places we shouldn't have been playing," he says. He was also arranging for the band - pulling horn parts off of records - and writing. By 17 Toussaint was playing sessions for Smiley Lewis at Cosimo Matassa's legendary J&M Studio, and playing the Dew Drop Inn with Earl King.
Fats Domino's producer Dave Bartholomew heard Toussaint at the Dew Drop and asked him to play a "Domino-like" piano part for a Domino session that the Fatman himself would not be attending. Domino dubbed the vocals to "I Want You to Know" sometime later, which became a hit in late-'57. After that, Toussaint says, "people considered me someone to be reckoned with."
After Toussaint was hired by an RCA producer to accompany several auditioning artists, the producer realized that Toussaint was the real talent. He recorded The Wild Sound of New Orleans (under the name "Al Tousan") in just two days n '58, and though the album didn't sell, a song from it, "Java," became an enormous hit for Al Hirt a few years later.
When Joe Banashak started his Minit label in early-'60, Toussaint was again hired to accompany an open audition. In one amazing night Minit signed Jessie Hill, Benny Spellman, Irma Thomas, and Aaron Neville to join Ernie K-Doe on the fledgling label's roster. Toussaint, at 22, became the creative force behind the label: arranging, producing, playing on, and/or writing a staggering number of regional and national hits from '60 until he was drafted into the Army in '63.
Toussaint's collective of singers backed each other, and his band (Chuck Badie on bass, James Black on drums, Roy Montrell on guitar, Nat Perrilliat and Clarence Ford on saxes, along with Toussaint on piano and various other hornmen) laid down a consistent, syncopated groove that struck a balance between big-city slick and down-home grit.
- Katrina: Musicians Domino, Thomas, Toussaint Missing or Stranded
- Published: September 01, 2005
- Type: News
- Section: Music
- Filed Under: Culture: Society, Music: Funk, Music: Instrumental, Music: News, Music: Pop, Music: R&B, Music: Roots Rock
- Writer: Eric Olsen
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Comments on this articleComments
yes Nat, totally agree of course. It really made me sad putting this together - will it ever be the same?
You neglected to mention the incredible horn arrangements that Toussaint did for The Band on their live album, Rock of Ages.
I wonder if Trent Reznor's OK. Didn't he move to New Orleans from Cleveland a few years back? Maybe he's on tour or flew away in his Dracula-copter to Transylvania or some other evil place ... like Los Angeles.
There ya go, folks. A laugh amidst the tragedy.
That is all.
Yes, those were pretty great. I'm sure I neglected lots of things, but thanks for that reminder
Did Anne Rice's makeup get washed off?
That is all.
I used to work out with a guy who dated Anne Rice in college - yes, he is older than I am
he said she was really weird, by the way
You know everyone, oh captain my captain.
Did you notice perhaps that a certain minor French actress celebrity (or someone impersonating her) appears to be hitting on me through your website?
I kinda sorta think it's her.
That is all.
Jeanne Moreau is hitting on you??
in which digital portico is this transpiring?
I don't know who that is, but think Peter Pan hair and a movie I couldn't ever bring myself to actually watch :)
Check "Worst Song Lyrics" and tell me what you think, oh captain my captain.
Real or fake? I think real.
It's super-geeky fun.
If she e-mails you asking for my business (which of course she won't), you'll have to give me a heads-up here because no one will ever really read this topic.
That is all.
I don't even think she's that hot (although she's way hotter with longer hair in the pictures I found to find out who the hell it was since I honestly didn't know by name), but if that's her, she's a lot of fun :)
That is all.
I'll just bet putting this together was sad for you, Eric. The whole thing is distressing. There is an emptiness inside me that just won't go away, no matter what diversions I try to use to distract myself.
But I have some good news: I just saved on my car insur...
No, CNN reports that Fats Domino has been found and he is OK.
"Rock 'n' roll pioneer Fats Domino was among the thousands of New Orleans residents plucked from rising floodwaters, his daughter said Thursday.
Karen Domino White, who lives in New Jersey, identified her father in a picture taken Monday night by a New Orleans Times-Picayune photographer.
The photograph shows Domino -- the singer behind the 1950s hits "Ain't That a Shame" and "Blueberry Hill" -- being helped off a boat near his home in the city's Lower 9th Ward.
His whereabouts since the rescue were not immediately known. Nor was there any information about his wife, Rosemary, friends said."
That lifted my spirits a bit. Hope it helps you.
Good news. Thanks for sharing that, human. I love Fats Domino and "Blueberry Hill." Although I do admit I always got him confused with Chubby Checker, but I'm young.
That is all.
Did you ever notice in certain publications that there would be a phenomenal writer stuck in the ladder while some cretin ran the show?
Totally not the case here. Olsen is by far the most talented blogger here.
Sussman, you've got something on your nose there :) But yeah, I think there's a reason this site attracts so much good writing about music (and occasionally bad, but "interesting" and "random" writing).
That is all.
It's nose poop. I accept that.
But with Olsen's sensible columns on the left and middle parts of the page, it really balances out the horrible writing on the far right side of the page.
That's not a political metaphor either.
And that's why I stick with just sports and humor.
Yeah, I remember when I first found the site, I think it didn't have a separate Politics section. I think I said then it needed one -- in retrospect, perhaps the right-wing political contingent isn't the best thing in the world. But it's always better to have more topics and more interests than less. The right-wing political types seem to enjoy what they do.
I think the music/culture/film focus of the site is great as well and you have better discussions of a lot of that stuff here than almost anywhere else I've seen.
That being said, can you believe Olsen voted for Bush? I think he's still proud of it too :)
We need more sports from you -- I think you, me and RJ are the only ones who seem to care about sports here.
That is all.
Don't forget about Tan the Man. I've also seen tennis and soccer/football on here from contributors.
But I have some football/NFL stuff I'm getting ready to unleash. Also when baseball playoffs heat up I'm on it.
This is a great piece on the Allen Toussaint--thank you for drawing attention to his work. He has been in my thoughts often over the past few days, along with the other musicians that have made New Orleans such a unique bright spot in our homogenized American culture. I hope they can all make it to safety like Fats Domino.
A number of safe-and-sound musicians with ties to NO are doing their part: NBC, MSNBC, and CNBC will telecast a Concert for Hurricane Relief tomorrow night featuring Harry Connick Jr., Aaron Neville (his famous family had to flee to Memphis hotels; most of their homes were destroyed), Wynton Marsalis, and Tim McGraw. Meanwhile New Orleans-born comedian Ellen DeGeneres reports that her aunt lost everything she had; she and her show's production company have pledged $1.5 million for Katrina victims. No, Ellen is not a musician, but she is a really good dancer.
Ah, more good news to report: Irma Thomas has been found. She is safe at her aunt's house in Baton Rouge, according to Fox News.
>>Jeanne Moreau is hitting on you??<<
At her age she can't be hitting very hard - but she remains hot.
Dave
How about the other musical greats- Cosimo Matassa, Huey "Piano" Smith, Dave Bartholomew, Eddie Bo. Are they O.K?
I can't find any info on them, sad to say. Will check again tomorrow.
The following, from Channel 2 in Baton Rouge, offers news on some others:
"While the whereabouts of many New Orleans singers and musicians remains unknown, Mark Samuels, president of Basin Street Records, reports from Memphis that Basin Street artists Kermit Ruffins, Irvin Mayfield, Ronald Markham and Theresa Andersson are safe in Baton Rouge, traditional jazz musician Michael White is in Houston, jazz-blues pianist Henry Butler is in Monroe and drummer Jason Marsalis, a member of the famous Marsalis jazz family, is in New York."
thanks so much for the updates Nat, vastly appreciated and a real ray of sunshine
and thanks to Matt, BAB, areader for your very kind words, almost equally appreciated!
It both broke my heart and drove me nuts to hear that Fats was missing, thanks Eric. And now that he has been found alive and unharmed, I can vent.
Fats! What the HELL were you thinking!
The man was among those who CHOSE to stay in New Orleans! Fats! You have your OWN PRIVATE PLANE. What POSSIBLE reason did you have to stay in town while it was destroyed?
I don't really know how much money Irma Thomas or Allen Toussaint had at their disposal, but Fats is still, after fifty years, a multimillionaire. Really, there was no excuse.
I hate having to vent frustration with one of my heroes, but there it is.
Irma Thomas is alive and well. According to an email circulated by her publicist last night, Irma showed up at Marcia Ball's show in Austin on Wednesday.
Great piece on the magnificent Mr. Toussaint. He and Irma are both featured (along with Ann Peebles, Billy Preston, & Mavis Staples) on the forthcoming CD "I Believe to My Soul" recorded in LA this June (release date: October 4). The project was put together and produced by my brother Joe Henry. I was there for the sessions and an accompanying documentary. The whole week was pure hair-raising magic.
I agree Michael: there is stoic and there is stupid.
thanks David, and that sounds like an amazing experience! Look forward to the release
Has anyone heard anything regarding the whereabouts of Snooks Eaglin? That man is a national treasure, and it would be a shame to lose him.
This news in an email from my brother Joe:
just spoke with irma's daughter, tina. they are together in gonzales, LA. they are safe, but have lost everything -their home and their business.
tina said through tears that they are all still in a state of shock, but are thankful to be alive, and thank everyone for their prayers and concern. they still have many friends in new orleans with whom they have not communicated and are bracing themselves for all manner of bad news
I read on the New Orleans site Gumbo Pages that Snooks Eaglin is alive and in another state. Still no word about Eddie Bo, Cossimo Matassa.
Alex Chilton (Big Star, Box Tops) lives near the French Quarter, and hasn't been heard from since Monday.
thanks for the updates guys, and special best wishes to all area "national treasures"
Alex Chilton was spotted in Molly's on Weds I think.
Walter Washington was seen in an NO shelter.
Eddie Bo is on a safe list.
No word as yet on Isaac Bolden, Thais Clark, Marshall Sehorn, Wardell Quezergue, Richard Caiton, Tony Owens, Skip Easterling, Antoinette K-Doe...
thanks Jon, both very good and disconerting news
FYI, Allen Toussaint will be on Letterman tonight. Word has it he performs "Southern Nights."
I worked at a little club behind frogman henrys in the late sixties. I met Alan there and we went out once to the fountainbleu. Hope he is doing well.
Looking for long time friend musician producer LOUIE LUDWIG (ZZI Records)-
New Orleans.
He sent me a letter 1 week before katrina hit.
please if you DO know where he is have him call 818 556 5625..
LOUIE IM SO SO WORRIED ABOUT YOU!
Wardell Quezergue is doing great in Texas.
great to hear it, Eric!
would like to get in touch with Fats Domino, as someone has written something for him. Is this possible? Where do i write or call?
Thank you,
Brian P. Sweeney
Hi - I've recently acquired 'Studio 150' by Paul Weller. One of the tracks is 'Hercules' credited to Allen Toussaint but I'm confused. I've also acquired 'Night Train' - a collection of tracks performed by the Oscar Peterson Trio. One of these is Bags' Groove which is credited to Milt Jackson, originally recorded by him in the early Fifties. The two tracks appear to have the same melody. Can anyone help me out here? Or am I looking for something that isn't there. I love this piece of music but once I tried to find out more about it my brain quickly switched to custard!!
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Oh man, I can hear the Frogman croaking over Toussaint's piano, "I don't know why I love you / But I doo-ooo..."
And Irma Thomas... I heard her sing at Tipitino's years back. What a wonder, what a privilege. That woman was smoking; I hope I get to be so privileged again.
I pray that the creator delivers Thomas, Toussaint, Fats Domino, Ernie K-Doe's widow, and all the others, musicians or not, safe and sound after this nightmare.