Fats Domino is one of the true kings of rock&roll, the man who did for the piano what Chuck Berry did for the guitar (albeit with a considerable boost from Johnnie Johnson’s piano). He took the the New Orleans boogie-woogie piano of people like Meade Lux Lewis, Champion Jack Dupree and Professor Longhair, and turned it into great rock records that sold to white teenagers in the millions. While he’s best known for songs like “Ain’t That a Shame” and “Blueberry Hill,” he put 37 records into the Top 40 between 1955 and 1963 and his largely forgotten “lesser songs” are better than some people’s gold records.
He’s back in New Orleans, and he’s got a new album out, Alive and Kickin’, which is being sold to benefit a foundation for New Orleans musicians. The record was recorded several years ago, but it’s outstanding, with a bunch of new originals, a very interesting new version of “Ain’t That a Shame,” and some old classics like “Every Night About This Time.”
It’s for a good cause, and it’s a great record, so go pick up a copy today: http://tipitinasfoundation.org/