NUY 40+ In Memoriam: New Orleans R&B Legend & Pioneering Architect of American Rock & Roll, Fats Domino Now Deceased at Age 89

via fatsdominooffical.com

Sadly we report today that mid-centuryAmerican music icon Fats Domino passed away this past Tuesday, October 24th at 89 years of age.  As per the official press statement released by his children, the musician died peacefully of natural causes in his Louisiana home, surrounded by loved ones.  Popular for his warm, easygoing vocals and New Orleans rolling style of piano playing,  the beloved 50s & 60s rock & roll star sold over 65 million records during his career, and from the years 1955-1960 was only surpassed in music sales by Elvis Presley. 


Born Antoine Dominique Domino Jr. "Fats" Domino was a native of New Orleans, Louisiana, the youngest of eight children to born violin player Antoine Caliste Domino and  his wife Marie-Donatille Gros.  Typically of Louisiana cultural heritage, the Domino family was of Creole background.  Domino began his professional career at age 14, playing live music in New Orleans music bars, and landed his first jazz band job in 1947.  It was in this setting that Antoine acquired his nickname, "Fats", because his playing reminded bandleader Billy Diamond of renowned pianists Fats Waller and Fats Pinchon, and the portly pianist had great love of good food. 

In 1949, Fats was signed to Imperial Records where he remained until 1962.  Under Imperial, he composed great American pop classics  such as "I Want to Walk You Home",  "Ain't That A Shame", "Blueberry Hill", "I'm Walkin' ", "Blue Monday" , "I'm Ready", and "I'm in Love Again".  Thereafter, he moved to ABC-Paramount Records until the late 1970s.  A prolific writer, Domino's catchy R&B tunes defied genre, and earned the singer 37 crossover Top 40 chart singles in an era where America was racially segregated by law, and often restricted airplay of black artists in certain regions of the country.  Though known as the more subdued of the three, in conjunction with his peers Chuck Berry and Little Richard, Antoine Fats Domino had a large stage presence, and his extensive crossover catalogue has contributed to the musician being credited one of the original architects of American Rock & Roll-  culminating with him being one of the first artists inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1986.

In 1998, Domino was awarded the National Medal of Arts by Bill Clinton, and Rolling Stone Magazine ranked him No. 25 on the list of "100 Greatest Artist of All Time".  He took a break from performing in 2006, returning to the stage in 2007 to perform one last time for the filming of the TV presentation, "Fats Domino: Walking Back to New Orleans". He continued to received accolades as an inductee into various musical Halls of Fame across America including the Delta Music Hall of Fame, Louisiana Music Hall of Fame,  and the Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame, until his death. His influence and legacy will not only frame Fats Domino as one of the best selling artists of all time in American music, but as a musical pioneer whose songs and tours broke down American racial barriers through his Dixieland style of r&b, rock, & blues-  bringing black and white youth together in their shared love for his music.

Rest in Peace, Monsieur Domino.