Shake, rattle & roll: Jazz Fest remembers Fats Domino

NEW ORLEANS » Fats Domino was a New Orleans musical legend when he died last year so it’s only fitting that his death — and his music — receive a special send-off this year during the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.

Organizers on Saturday marked the occasion with a jazz funeral as well as a special tribute performance in his honor.

Al ‘Lil Fats’ Jackson played the classic Domino song “Blueberry Hill” as crowds gathered Saturday at the festival’s ancestor area to remember Domino, who died last year.

The festival unveiled a painting of Domino sitting at his piano to join the other paintings of luminaries associated with the festival who have passed away.

One of Domino’s grandchildren, Angele Green, thanked the crowd for coming.

“In the words of my grandfather, let’s shake, rattle and roll,” she said.

Domino sold more than 110 million records, with hits including “Blueberry Hill,” “Ain’t That a Shame” and other standards of rock ‘n’ roll.

The rock ‘n’ roll pioneer helped change popular music with his steady, pounding piano and easy baritone. Despite his fame, he always stayed loyal to New Orleans. After 2005’s Hurricane Katrina as floodwaters swept the city, he and his family were rescued by boat from his home but he lost three pianos and dozens of gold and platinum records and other memorabilia.

“There are two New Orleans musicians ... that changed the music of the whole world. That’s Louis Armstrong and Fats Domino,” said festival producer Quint Davis speaking before the festival, who said he had a “wonderful time” going back and listening to Domino’s music to prepare for the festival.

Carolyn Stark of Ann Arbor, Mich. was part of the crowd. She said she’d only seen Domino perform once but wanted to pay her respects.

“He was so happy when he was playing,” she said, adding that the image had stuck in her memory.