Farewell to the REAL king of rock ’n’ roll Music legend Fats
Domino dies at 89
MUSIC pioneer Fats Domino, who was lauded by Elvis Presley as ‘the real king of rock ’n’ roll’, has died at the age of 89.
The American singer was best known for his 1950s hits Ain’t That A Shame, I’m Walkin’ and Blueberry Hill.
During his seven-decade career Domino sold more than 65million records – outselling every 1950s rock ’n’ roll act except Presley. He died on Tuesday morning from natural causes, the Louisiana coroner’s office said.
His family said the singer was surrounded by loved ones in his home city of New Orleans.
Renowned for his laidback style and humble demeanour, he once said: ‘I’m glad that people liked me and my music. I guess it was an interesting life. I didn’t pay much attention, and I never thought I’d be here this long.’
Domino – who was born Antoine Domino Jr – was one of the first rhythm and blues performers to attract a white audience.
Famed for his easy baritone voice and rhythmic piano playing, the 5ft 5in, 14-stone star was among the first inductees to the Rock ’n’ roll Hall of Fame in 1986.
The child of Haitian Creole plantation workers and the grandson of a slave, Domino grew up the youngest of eight siblings in a French-speaking house.
He developed musical skills at an early age and was taught to play the piano by his brother-inlaw, the jazz pianist Harrison Verrett.
He dropped out of school at 14 and took a factory job while working on the club circuit, quickly attracting a sizeable following.
By 1949 he was leading his own band and was spotted by producer Lew Chudd, head of Imperial Records, who quickly signed the young singer.
Domino’s first release, The Fat Man, became the first rock ’n’ roll record to sell over a million copies and hit No.2 on the R&B charts. It is credited by some experts as a changing point in popular music. Between 1955 and 1963, he had 35 Top 40 US singles, including Whole Lotta Loving, Blue Monday and I’m In Love Again, and appeared in several films including The Girl Can’t Help It in 1956.
Presley, who shot to fame around the same time as Domino, once said of him: ‘A lot of people seem to think I started this business, but rock ’n’ roll was here a long time before I came along. Let’s face it: I can’t sing it like Fats Domino can. I know that. But I always liked that kind of music’.
At a news conference in Las Vegas in 1969, Presley interrupted a reporter who had called him The King. He pointed to Domino, who was in the room, and said, ‘There’s the real king of rock ’n’ roll.’
Paul McCartney reportedly copied Domino’s style when he wrote The Beatles’ song Lady Madonna.
Domino was married for 60 years to Rosemary, who died in 2008. They had eight children.
In 2005, the family’s home in New Orleans was devastated by Hurricane Katrina. Domino was rescued by a coastguard helicopter after choosing to stay behind to look after his sick wife. The singer’s National Medal of Arts was lost in the flood, and replaced by then-president George W Bush in 2006.
Last night, American rapper LL Cool J said: ‘Rest in paradise to Fats Domino. He paved the way for so many. I remember listening to his music as a little boy. I found my thrill on Blueberry Hill, that line inspired me to dream’.
Actor Samuel L Jackson wrote: ‘I found My Thrill on Blueberry Hill. RIP Fats Domino.’
‘He paved the way for so many’