Fats Domino was a rock ’n’ roll pioneer
Fats Domino, the amiable rock ’n’ roll pioneer whose steady, pounding piano and easy baritone helped change popular music, has died of natural causes. He was 89.
In appearance, he was no matinee idol. He stood five-foot-five and weighed more than 200 pounds. But Domino sold more than 110 million records, with hits including “Blueberry Hill,” “Ain’t That a Shame” and other standards of rock ’n’ roll.
He was one of the first10 honourees named to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Rolling Stone Record Guide likened him to Benjamin Franklin, the beloved old man of a revolutionary movement.
Domino’s 1956 version of “Blueberry Hill” was selected for the Library of Congress’s National Recording Registry of historic sound recordings worthy of preservation.
Domino became a global star, but stayed true to his hometown of New Orleans, where his fate was initially unknown after Hurricane Katrina struck in August 2005. It turned out that he and his family were rescued by boat from his home, where he lost three pianos and dozens of gold and platinum records, along with other memorabilia.
Many wondered if he would ever return to the stage. But in May 2007, he was back, performing at Tipitina’s music club in New Orleans.
That performance was a highlight during several rough years. After losing their home and almost all their belongings to the floods, his wife of more than 50 years, Rosemary, died in April 2008.
The son of a violin player, Antoine Domino Jr. recorded his first song, “The Fat Man,” in the back of a tiny French Quarter recording studio.
In1955, he broke into the white pop charts with “Ain’t it a Shame,” later “Ain’t That a Shame.”
He appeared in the film The Girl Can’t Help It and was among the first Black performers to be featured in popular music shows, starring with Buddy Holly and the Everly Brothers.