One of the founders of rock and roll breathed his last yesterday: Antoine Dominique Domino Jr. better known as Fats died at the age of 89. Fats was an unlikely rock star in many ways. He was shy and retiring; preferring to stay at home in New Orleans instead of hitting the oldies circuit like his peers. But as a singer, songwriter, and pianist Fats was peerless.
The news hit hard and fast in Fats’ home town. A crowd gathered outside his former home on Caffin Avenue in the Lower 9th Ward to celebrate the man and his music.
A growing crowd outside Fats Domino’s home on Caffin Avenue. pic.twitter.com/rbDBuCy71s
— Gambit (@The_Gambit) October 25, 2017
Natural disasters do not respect music legends so Chez Domino flooded in 2005. Fats was missing for a few days and the world feared that he’d drowned in the storm. He survived and resurfaced as a guest at then LSU QB JaMarcus Russell’s place in Baton Rouge. I’m not sure why that detail has stuck with me all these years but it has. So it goes.
Since Fats Domino was the personification of New Orleans music, there has been a lot of excellent local coverage of the great man’s passing. Here’s a sample:
Tom Piazza in the Paris Review.
Jarvis DeBerry in the Picayune.
One of the more unusual tributes was posted on social media by New Orleans writer Michael Tisserand:
So much for the good old days.
Antoine Fats Domino lived a long and productive life. It was always comforting knowing that he was still with us. He will be missed.
I don’t usually jump on the band wagon for movies about music Icons, but, I’d love to see one made about “Fats”. He had an interesting, low-keyed life & a legacy that needs to be seen/heard! He wasn’t one of those self centered, “Look, It’s Me attitude.” Also, too, he was one talented soul!!! Thank You!