Artist News Obituaries

Fats Domino dies

By | Published on Thursday 26 October 2017

Fats Domino

Rock n roll pioneer Fats Domino died on Tuesday, aged 89, it was announced by the Louisiana Medical Examiner’s Office yesterday.

Born in 1928, real name Antoine Dominique Domino Jr, Fats began his career as a teenager, performing in New Orleans bars. He signed his first record deal with Imperial Records in 1949. By 1951 his debut single ‘The Fat Man’ had sold over a million copies, firmly establishing him as one of the biggest names in the then burgeoning rock n roll genre.

Over his career, he sold over 65 million albums. Although stopped recording in the early 80s, after it was falsely reported that he had been killed when Hurricane Katrina destroyed his home in 2005, he returned to the studio to record his final album, ‘Alive And Kickin’. Released in 2006, he donated proceeds from the record to local charity the Tipitina’s Foundation.

Domino ceased touring in the mid-90s, following an illness while in the UK. He still occasionally performed live over the next decade though, with his final performance taking place at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in 2007.

In a statement, the musician’s children said: “We are all touched by the outpouring of love and tribute for our father. He passed away peacefully at home surrounded by those he loved and those who loved him. His music reached across all boundaries and carried him to all corners of the world”.

Speaking to Billboard, one of Domino’s contemporaries, Little Richard, said: “He’s the greatest entertainer that I ever known. Black, white, red, brown or yellow, he’s a just good guy and I thank God for giving me the opportunity to know him. I love him”.

Domino is survived by thirteen children. His wife Rosemary died in 2008.



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