New West Records

In my humble opinion, this is the definitive Fats Domino performance ever captured on camera. First of all, like his hero Louis Armstrong a generation earlier, Fats is synonymous with New Orleans. Not to mention the early days of rock-and-roll. Who doesn’t love the infectious lyrics and oating melodies of “Blueberry Hill,” “Ain’t That A Shame,” “I’m Walkin’,” “I’m In Love Again” or “Blue Monday?”

Music was practically a birthright for Antoine Domino, Jr., one of nine kids from a poor family. He never made it past 4th grade, but he was already playing boogie-woogie piano. By the time he cut his first record at 21, he already stood out from the crowd with his baby face smile, rollicking beat and that magic voice – youthful, warm and rich. Despite all the hits, his records don’t do justice to the incredible excitement and energy of his live shows, driven by one of New Orleans’ preeminent bandleaders and Fats’ mentor, Dave Bartholomew.

Fats is notoriously shy, but I pursued him to Las Vegas in my quest to lure him to the ACL stage. I found him in the old Elvis suite at The Flamingo, where he sat in his bathrobe peeling fresh Louisiana shrimp. I don’t remember what I said or he said, but it worked – a few weeks later he came to Austin.

When Hurricane Katrina hit, Fats had to be rescued from his home, sharing the trauma and devastation with his old neighbors in the Lower Ninth Ward. But don’t worry – careers fade and styles change, but the music of Fats Domino is timeless.