The late legendary pianist Fats Domino transformed the landscape of music by tapping into the power of innovation to cultivate the genre of rock ‘n’ roll. The city of New Orleans—which served as the backdrop of his life—is paying homage to the visionary with a street renaming, NBC reported.
The trailblazing musician’s legacy and impact transcends across the globe, but the roots of his creativity were nurtured in NOLA. He learned how to play the piano at 7-years-old and by the age of 10 was performing as a singer and pianist within the New Orleans music circuit. As a teenager, he decided to put his sole focus on elevating his musical career and began playing piano for NOLA-based bass player Billy Diamond. His talent and stage presence generated buzz and big crowds.
Leaning into this momentum, he inked a deal with Imperial Records and later released a song dubbed “The Fat Man” that would catapult him into success. The song, which he co-wrote with fellow Louisiana native Dave Bartholomew, became the first rock ‘n’ roll record to sell 1 million copies. With chart-topping songs like “Ain’t That a Shame” and “Blueberry Hill,” Domino began to solidify himself as a power player in music and sold over 110 million records over the course of his storied career. He spent his latter years out of the public eye in New Orleans, enjoying a quiet life with his wife and eight children.
Domino’s story is exemplary of the power of resilience. In the music industry, he overcame overt racism and discrimination. Later in life, he survived the destruction of Hurricane Katrina and stood by his city in the midst of recovery efforts. Domino passed away in 2017, but the effervescence that he brought to NOLA and beyond will reverberate for generations to come. The Lower 9th Ward’s Caffin Avenue, where the musician’s longtime home stands, will now bear the name Antoine “Fats” Domino Ave. A musical celebration was held on Saturday to commemorate the street renaming. The performance lineup included Domino’s grandson Antoine Domino Jr., Kermit Ruffins, Al “Carnival Time” Johnson, and the Stooges Brass Band.
“Fats never left the city and he’s never really been celebrated, even though he chose to stay in New Orleans and to raise his family in the Lower 9,” Rev. Willie Calhoun, who helped plan the celebration, shared in a statement. “He had a choice to live anywhere he wanted and he made the choice to live right here.”
Over the past few years, efforts have been made to preserve the legacies of trailblazing Black musicians. Last year, the former Chicago home of blues singer Muddy Waters was granted preliminary landmark status.
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Legendary Musician Muddy Waters’ Chicago Home Granted Preliminary Landmark Status
Documentary About The Life And Legacy Of Legendary Musician Louis Armstrong In The Works
