Fats was a bit of a surprise on the Rock ‘n’ Roll scene. He doesn’t actually play what I’d call Rock ‘n’ Roll. He’s an R&B man straight out of New Orleans. Great stuff. Always cheers me up!
Fats Domino – a tribute
Fats Domino has died at the age of 89. He was one of the last of the stars of the Rock ‘n’ Roll era. He was an unlikely star at that and never fitted the image of a raving Rock Star. There was none of the flamboyance, arrogance or aggression of the other Rock idols of that era. He didn’t exude sexuality or strut his stuff, there were no burning pianos, blown up hotel rooms or pounding keys. Fats was a rotund man with a huge grin who seemed relaxed and content. He liked his home cooking so much he even took his own pots and pans with him on tour. Unlike his wilder contemporaries he seemed safe, friendly and avuncular. On top of that his music wasn’t even Rock ‘n’ Roll. He played New Orleans R&B with a rolling piano boogie beat and a rich textured voice that was as mellow and seasoned as matured oak. Yet Fats was a major player during the fifties Rock boom and had a series of 30 top ten hits in the 50s and 60s, appeared on all manner of Rock ‘n’ Roll Shows, TV and film and somehow fitted in. When appearing with the likes of wilder piano Rock giants such as Jerry Lee Lewis or Little Richard he held his own.
I first heard Fats when I was a young kid. I was into Little Richard at the time but still loved the more mellow sound of Blueberry Hill. Then I fell in love with I’m In Love Again.
Without knowing it I was falling in love with the New Orleans style with the likes of Smiley Lewis, Huey Piano Smith, and Frankie Ford. They had that same infectious beat and feeling of joy of life. They oozed happiness and contentment. But as a kid I didn’t even know they were from New Orleans.
I got to appreciate Fats more when I got hold of his greatest hits album which was packed with gems. Along with the classic Blueberry Hill and I’m In Love Again were the wonders of I’m Walking to New Orleans, I’m Walking, I’m Gonna Be a Wheel Someday, Blue Monday, Ain’t That A Shame, and Be My Guest. I played that album to death. Somehow, back in those early days I found it really uplifting and calming. It soothed the troubled soul. I’d lower the stylus, lie on my bed in my tiny bedroom and allow Fats’ mellow tones to bounce off the walls to a background sound of ‘Turn that down’ coming from the sitting room.
But times change. With the Beatles and then the Psychedelic and Acid Rock of the sixties Fats Domino took a back seat on my dansette record player.
It wasn’t until later that I investigated Fats to a far greater degree. There was more to him than his hits. He’d actually started up in 1949, the year of my birth, with his R&B hit The Fatman, where he’d come fully fledged along with that rolling piano sound and melodious voice and wrote his own material. All those early sessions were packed with more of the same.
Nobody sounded quite like Fats Domino. I’ll miss the warmth of the man. But I bet they’ll be digging out a few gems to remind us.
https://www.google.co.uk/search?ei=O-_xWYuuJquTgAazlpWICQ&q=fats+domino+you+tube+i+in+love+again&oq=fats+domino+you+tube+I%27m+In+Love&gs_l=psy-ab.1.0.33i22i29i30k1l3.2044792.2070489.0.2073282.20.20.0.0.0.0.266.2493.3j16j1.20.0….0…1.1.64.psy-ab..0.20.2475…0j0i131k1j0i22i30k1j0i131i10k1j0i10k1j0i20i263k1j0i22i10i30k1j0i13k1j0i13i30k1.0.ZHvPG_79qiY