The Domino has Fallen
October 25, 2017 8:02 AM Subscribe
Enormous talent, as a singer, pianist, songwriter and bandleader, and hugely influential. As far as I can tell, he never cut a bad record.
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posted by ogooglebar at 8:09 AM on October 25, 2017 [3 favorites]
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posted by ogooglebar at 8:09 AM on October 25, 2017 [3 favorites]
A dear friend of my family who grew up in the Ninth Ward of New Orleans with my dad and my uncle.
RIP Antoine Fats Domino. Your legacy reverberates through New Orleans and the world.
I am so very sad right now.
posted by narancia at 8:10 AM on October 25, 2017 [27 favorites]
RIP Antoine Fats Domino. Your legacy reverberates through New Orleans and the world.
I am so very sad right now.
posted by narancia at 8:10 AM on October 25, 2017 [27 favorites]
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posted by The Card Cheat at 8:11 AM on October 25, 2017
posted by The Card Cheat at 8:11 AM on October 25, 2017
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posted by Mister Bijou at 8:12 AM on October 25, 2017
posted by Mister Bijou at 8:12 AM on October 25, 2017
My Dad had a Fats Domino compilation LP that was a favourite of mine as a child; I still love his songs now.
I was amused to learn that his eight children's first names all began with the letter A...
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posted by misteraitch at 8:16 AM on October 25, 2017 [4 favorites]
I was amused to learn that his eight children's first names all began with the letter A...
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posted by misteraitch at 8:16 AM on October 25, 2017 [4 favorites]
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posted by Bob Regular at 8:16 AM on October 25, 2017
posted by Bob Regular at 8:16 AM on October 25, 2017
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Fats Domino's cameo on Treme.
A legend. Yeah, one of my first musical memories is playing a v old rock and roll compilation record my parent's owned that featured him.
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 8:21 AM on October 25, 2017 [3 favorites]
Fats Domino's cameo on Treme.
A legend. Yeah, one of my first musical memories is playing a v old rock and roll compilation record my parent's owned that featured him.
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 8:21 AM on October 25, 2017 [3 favorites]
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posted by Annabelle74 at 8:23 AM on October 25, 2017
posted by Annabelle74 at 8:23 AM on October 25, 2017
Shit. Had to happen eventually, but damn, all the legends are fast vanishing, and if there's anyone who qualifies for the legend label, it's Fats.
posted by blucevalo at 8:30 AM on October 25, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by blucevalo at 8:30 AM on October 25, 2017 [6 favorites]
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posted by lalochezia at 8:32 AM on October 25, 2017
posted by lalochezia at 8:32 AM on October 25, 2017
I confess I didn't realize he was still alive. His music is so foundational to so much other work, and to so many artists, that I lazily assumed he was from farther in the past and long gone.
I wonder whether the lack of recent conversations about him is more a reflection of recent artists forgetting where they came from, or for never even knowing?
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posted by wenestvedt at 8:39 AM on October 25, 2017 [3 favorites]
I wonder whether the lack of recent conversations about him is more a reflection of recent artists forgetting where they came from, or for never even knowing?
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posted by wenestvedt at 8:39 AM on October 25, 2017 [3 favorites]
Who's left from the very first wave of rock and rollers? Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, and...?
posted by The Card Cheat at 8:39 AM on October 25, 2017
posted by The Card Cheat at 8:39 AM on October 25, 2017
Boogie woogie is king. RIP, Fats.
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posted by Mental Wimp at 8:45 AM on October 25, 2017 [1 favorite]
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posted by Mental Wimp at 8:45 AM on October 25, 2017 [1 favorite]
Who's left from the very first wave of rock and rollers? Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, and...?
the fact that Jerry Lee Lewis outlived all those guys is just incredible.
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posted by dismas at 8:48 AM on October 25, 2017 [3 favorites]
the fact that Jerry Lee Lewis outlived all those guys is just incredible.
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posted by dismas at 8:48 AM on October 25, 2017 [3 favorites]
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posted by Multicellular Exothermic at 8:50 AM on October 25, 2017
posted by Multicellular Exothermic at 8:50 AM on October 25, 2017
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posted by LobsterMitten at 8:54 AM on October 25, 2017
posted by LobsterMitten at 8:54 AM on October 25, 2017
dismas: the fact that Jerry Lee Lewis outlived all those guys is just incredible.
At this point I think he has turned into a kind of leathery Rock'N'Roll Pemmican, like Keith Richards: their bodies are probably only about 40% water, and would be hard to ignite -- but once they went up, it would be like a magnesium fire that you can only shovel sand on while it burns itself out.
posted by wenestvedt at 9:10 AM on October 25, 2017 [8 favorites]
At this point I think he has turned into a kind of leathery Rock'N'Roll Pemmican, like Keith Richards: their bodies are probably only about 40% water, and would be hard to ignite -- but once they went up, it would be like a magnesium fire that you can only shovel sand on while it burns itself out.
posted by wenestvedt at 9:10 AM on October 25, 2017 [8 favorites]
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posted by jim in austin at 9:10 AM on October 25, 2017
posted by jim in austin at 9:10 AM on October 25, 2017
The New York Times obit talks about his influence on Elvis Presley but not the Beatles. Paul McCartney was supposedly inspired by Fats Domino to write "Lady Madonna," and Fats covered it. And John Lennon included Fats Domino's "Ain't That a Shame" on his Rock 'n' Roll album of early rock covers.
posted by John Cohen at 9:17 AM on October 25, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by John Cohen at 9:17 AM on October 25, 2017 [4 favorites]
One of my friends posted _this morning_ that Fats is still alive and needs to be better appreciated while he is. Then minutes later...
Man, what a towering figure.
posted by Navelgazer at 9:21 AM on October 25, 2017 [2 favorites]
Man, what a towering figure.
posted by Navelgazer at 9:21 AM on October 25, 2017 [2 favorites]
At this point I think he has turned into a kind of leathery Rock'N'Roll Pemmican, like Keith Richards
Keith Richards has actually been dead since 1996, but they keep him around to make Mick look healthy.
RIP, Fats, and thanks.
posted by nickmark at 9:21 AM on October 25, 2017 [3 favorites]
Keith Richards has actually been dead since 1996, but they keep him around to make Mick look healthy.
RIP, Fats, and thanks.
posted by nickmark at 9:21 AM on October 25, 2017 [3 favorites]
> Who's left from the very first wave of rock and rollers? Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, and...?
Not A-list, but Andre Williams was born in '36. Dick Richards of The Comets is still with us.
posted by Leon at 9:23 AM on October 25, 2017
Not A-list, but Andre Williams was born in '36. Dick Richards of The Comets is still with us.
posted by Leon at 9:23 AM on October 25, 2017
I saw him live once, about 30 years ago, at a New Orleans festival. He was fantastic.
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posted by ubiquity at 9:35 AM on October 25, 2017 [3 favorites]
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posted by ubiquity at 9:35 AM on October 25, 2017 [3 favorites]
The Card Cheat: "Who's left from the very first wave of rock and rollers? Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, and...?"
Pat Boone's still around.
posted by octothorpe at 9:44 AM on October 25, 2017
Pat Boone's still around.
posted by octothorpe at 9:44 AM on October 25, 2017
Chubby Checker's name
One of my dad's go-to jokes used to be "There's a Fats Domino. And there's a Chubby Checker. Why isn't there a Chunky Chess?"
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posted by Atom Eyes at 9:47 AM on October 25, 2017 [5 favorites]
One of my dad's go-to jokes used to be "There's a Fats Domino. And there's a Chubby Checker. Why isn't there a Chunky Chess?"
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posted by Atom Eyes at 9:47 AM on October 25, 2017 [5 favorites]
Of all things just watched Every Which Way You Can the other night.
posted by lagomorphius at 9:49 AM on October 25, 2017
posted by lagomorphius at 9:49 AM on October 25, 2017
89 is a damn good run for a musician and a black man.
posted by riruro at 9:59 AM on October 25, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by riruro at 9:59 AM on October 25, 2017 [1 favorite]
> the fact that Jerry Lee Lewis outlived all those guys is just incredible.
Hellfire came out in 1982 and when you read it it's hard to believe Jerry Lee lived more than half an hour after it was published.
posted by The Card Cheat at 10:26 AM on October 25, 2017 [1 favorite]
Hellfire came out in 1982 and when you read it it's hard to believe Jerry Lee lived more than half an hour after it was published.
posted by The Card Cheat at 10:26 AM on October 25, 2017 [1 favorite]
Re: all the legends vanishing. Back in Georgia, been a little while now, I worked alongside a psychiatric nurse/badass bodhisattva of Kentucky goodnight radiance. One night, late on our shift and sharing a smoke, she coolly mentioned that her sister had dated The Killer back in the day. I was floored. The next day, just to blow my mind, she brought in a few b/w photographs of her and her sister doubledating with Jerry Lee and some other dude. They were all laughing, posed against a ragtop Corvette, beehives and hornrims and sundresses and brill cream and baggies and the motherfuckin Killer right there plain as day. I said "What's he like?" She said, "Shit, that man is wild!"
posted by Bob Regular at 10:55 AM on October 25, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by Bob Regular at 10:55 AM on October 25, 2017 [6 favorites]
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posted by fairmettle at 11:00 AM on October 25, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by fairmettle at 11:00 AM on October 25, 2017 [1 favorite]
Aw, so sad! I had a budgie that absolutely adored my Fats Domino greatest hits CD, especially Blueberry Hill. He would dance and bob with great enthusiasm!
posted by Calzephyr at 11:07 AM on October 25, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by Calzephyr at 11:07 AM on October 25, 2017 [3 favorites]
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posted by supercrayon at 11:48 AM on October 25, 2017
posted by supercrayon at 11:48 AM on October 25, 2017
Fats Donmino and Katrina: How the rock n roll legend stared down the hurricane
posted by larrybob at 11:53 AM on October 25, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by larrybob at 11:53 AM on October 25, 2017 [3 favorites]
Some more early days of rock and R&B people still alive:
Dave Bartholomew (born 1918)
Big Jay McNeely (born 1927)
Little Richard (born 1932)
Lloyd Price (born 1933)
Huey "Piano" Smith (born 1934)
Wanda Jackson (born 1937)
posted by larrybob at 11:58 AM on October 25, 2017 [6 favorites]
Dave Bartholomew (born 1918)
Big Jay McNeely (born 1927)
Little Richard (born 1932)
Lloyd Price (born 1933)
Huey "Piano" Smith (born 1934)
Wanda Jackson (born 1937)
posted by larrybob at 11:58 AM on October 25, 2017 [6 favorites]
It's a family joke that my grandmother & grandfather only got together because they both loved Fats Domino. So without Fats, no Bookish Mum and thus no me. I shed a little tear as I played "Red Sails in the Sunset" when I heard. It is the sound of my childhood summers.
Rest in peace, Fats. you were loved by my grandmother who no longer remembers many things but still hums your songs, Thank you.
posted by kariebookish at 11:58 AM on October 25, 2017 [8 favorites]
Rest in peace, Fats. you were loved by my grandmother who no longer remembers many things but still hums your songs, Thank you.
posted by kariebookish at 11:58 AM on October 25, 2017 [8 favorites]
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posted by Joey Michaels at 12:01 PM on October 25, 2017
posted by Joey Michaels at 12:01 PM on October 25, 2017
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posted by Flippervault at 12:54 PM on October 25, 2017
posted by Flippervault at 12:54 PM on October 25, 2017
Back in the day when I played D&D, one of my friend's dad was always playing his Fats Domino records in another room, so I sort of associate smacking away at kobolds and orcs with "Blueberry Hill" playing in the background.
posted by lagomorphius at 2:50 PM on October 25, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by lagomorphius at 2:50 PM on October 25, 2017 [4 favorites]
Just this morning I was rolling around on youtube and listened to "The Fat Man" by Fats Domino in 1939. 1939!!! He's been King of the Hill for so long. This is a sad sad day.
posted by MovableBookLady at 3:03 PM on October 25, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by MovableBookLady at 3:03 PM on October 25, 2017 [1 favorite]
One of my absolute, desert-island, love-every-single-song favorites. RIP, Antoine.
posted by Dr. Wu at 3:06 PM on October 25, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Dr. Wu at 3:06 PM on October 25, 2017 [2 favorites]
Even Ron Howard got his thrill on "Blueberry Hill" (a running joke on "Happy Days"). I'm sure they're having a moment of silence on the "Solo" set.
Narrator: " . "
posted by oneswellfoop at 4:22 PM on October 25, 2017 [2 favorites]
Narrator: " . "
posted by oneswellfoop at 4:22 PM on October 25, 2017 [2 favorites]
. . A modest musical giant, gone. .
posted by kozad at 8:21 PM on October 25, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by kozad at 8:21 PM on October 25, 2017 [1 favorite]
The Guardian's obituary points out another major influence that Domino's music had: "If it’s a stretch to suggest he unwittingly invented reggae, his records were certainly regularly played on Jamaican sound systems in the 1950s, and his accentuation of the offbeat in his playing is one of the roots of ska..."
posted by misteraitch at 1:44 AM on October 26, 2017 [12 favorites]
posted by misteraitch at 1:44 AM on October 26, 2017 [12 favorites]
That man was such a big part of my childhood. My parents had all his records and they were played a lot! My piano teacher was horrified when I started to try to play his music - I got really good on "Blue Monday".
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posted by james33 at 4:46 AM on October 26, 2017 [2 favorites]
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posted by james33 at 4:46 AM on October 26, 2017 [2 favorites]
2015 piece from New Orleans music magazine Offbeat including a several paragraphs each from New Orleans pianists: What Fats Domino Means to New Orleans
posted by larrybob at 10:23 AM on October 27, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by larrybob at 10:23 AM on October 27, 2017 [2 favorites]
John Cleary posted video from when he visited Fats Domino and Fats played along with him.
posted by larrybob at 5:13 PM on October 27, 2017
posted by larrybob at 5:13 PM on October 27, 2017
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