Sad news to report today ILOSM family. the legendary New Orleans singer/musician, Fats Domino has passed away today at the age of 89. The news was just revealed by his daughter through WWL-TV in New Orleans, La. See details below.
Via WWL: New Orleans music legend Fats Domino has died. He was 89 years old. WWL-TV Anchor Eric Paulson received word from the family early Wednesday morning. His daughter said he was surrounded by family and friends and died peacefully.
Domino was well-known for songs like “Blueberry Hill,” “Ain’t That a Shame” and “Walkin’ To New Orleans.” He was honored with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1987. Rolling Stone magazine listed him at #25 in the list of ‘Greatest Recording Artists of All Time.’
The magazine said: After John Lennon and Paul McCartney, Fats Domino and his partner, Dave Bartholomew, were probably the greatest team of songwriters ever. They always had a simple melody, a hip set of chord changes and a cool groove. And their songs all had simple lyrics; that’s the key. There are no deep plots in Fats Domino songs: “Yes, it’s me, and I’m in love again/Had no lovin’ since you know when/You know I love you, yes I do/And I’m savin’ all my lovin’ just for you.” It don’t get no simpler than that.
Fats Domino first dominated the music industry in 1949 and his reign continued as he stayed at the top of the Billboard charts throughout the early 1960’s.
Mr. Domino was re-thrusted into to spotlight in 2005, after hurricane Katrina ravaged his two story home in New Orleans’ 9th ward. For many days after the Aug. 29th hurricane that devastated the city, the media speculated whether or not Fats was dead or alive. No one had heard from him for days and for a while, his house was unreachable, due to the flood waters covering most of the homes in that area.
As Nola.com reported:
Mr. Domino was rescued from his second-floor balcony by boat. From then on, he lived with his daughter Adonica in Harvey. The floodwaters filled his house with mud, washed away many of his two dozen gold records that had hung on the walls and trashed his grand piano, which has since been put on display, in its ruined condition, in the Louisiana State Museum. Nevertheless, Mr. Domino was philosophical about the loss when he walked through his home a month after the storm. In “Blue Monday: Fats Domino and the Lost Dawn of Rock ‘n’ Roll,” Rick Coleman quoted him as saying, “Whatever goes up gotta come down some kinda way.”
Fats Domino will be sorely missed, but his legacy will continue to live on. He made a great impact on the world after his humble beginnings as a southern kid in New Orleans, La. May he rest peacefully after a job well done.
