Happy 85th birthday to one rock 'n roll's true legends and giants, Fats Domino!

His significance to the development of rock 'n roll cannot be overstated. Anyone who is a novice to Domino owes it to themselves to pick up They Call Me the Fat Man: The Legendary Imperial Recordings, a four-disc, 100-song box set. It's an outstanding introduction to Fats's music.

Posted by Zach on Tuesday, 02/26/2013 @ 17:44pm

The most popular singer of classic New Orleans R&B, Fats Domino sold more albums then any other black 1950s rock and roll singer. While he may not have been the most flamboyant or charismatic rock and roller of the 50s, he was the person most rooted in the worlds of the blues, R&B and various types that gave rise to rock. His boogie-woogie playing style and relaxed vocals anchored a long list of hits from the mid '50s to the early '60s.

With these musical achievements, Fats Domino put New Orleans on the musical map. He was also a key person in the transition of R&B to rock and roll. His first single, "The Fat Man" could be considered one of the first rock n' roll songs.

Fats' influence is far reaching as people like Elton John and Paul McCartney drew his Domino's piano playing power, but the musician he influenced the most was Billy Joel.

Posted by Andrew on Monday, 06/3/2013 @ 12:07pm

The most popular singer of classic New Orleans R&B, Fats Domino sold more albums then any other black 1950s rock and roll singer. While he may not have been the most flamboyant or charismatic rock and roller of the 50s, he was the person most rooted in the worlds of the blues, R&B and various types that gave rise to rock. His boogie-woogie playing style and relaxed vocals anchored a long list of hits from the mid '50s to the early '60s.

With these musical achievements, Fats Domino put New Orleans on the musical map. He was also a key person in the transition of R&B to rock and roll. His first single, "The Fat Man" could be considered one of the first rock n' roll songs.

Fats' influence is far reaching as people like Elton John and Paul McCartney drew from Domino's piano playing power, but the musician he influenced the most was Billy Joel.

Posted by Andrew on Monday, 06/3/2013 @ 21:06pm

The most popular performer of the classic New Orleans R&B sound, Fats Domino may not have been the most flamboyant, threatening, or innovative rock and roll singer of the 50s, but he certainly was the singer who was most rooted in the blues, rhythm and blues and various strains of jazz that gave birth to rock n' roll.

With a gentle boogie-woogie piano playing style, warm vocals, a slow way of singing, and Creole inflected vocals, Domino helped put New Orleans on the musical map during the dawn of rock n' roll. In fact, he was a huge figure in the transition from R&B to rock and roll. A transition so subtle that the lines between these two different musical styles often bordered on insignificance.

Born in 1928, Fats ultimately sold more records then any other 50s rock and roll singer except Elvis Presley. Between 1950 and 1963, he made the pop charts 63 times and the R&B charts 59 times. Incredible as it might be, Domino scored more hits than Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly, and Little Richard all combined.

His debut single, "The Fat Man," is one of dozens of songs that could be a candidate for the first rock n' roll song and at the least, it was a milestone rhythm and blues song that heralded a new age in American popular music.

A string of hits followed "The Fat Man," such as "Goin' Home," "Going to the River," and "Please Don't Leave Me." Still, Domino's success was limited to the R&B charts until 1952, when "Goin' Home" hit the pop charts and "Going to the River," the following year, but his major crossover hit came in 1955 with "Ain't That A Shame."

He experienced extraordinary success in the rapidly glowing rock n' roll market in the latter half of the 50s. "Ain't That A Shame" was the first in a string 37 crossover hits for Fats over the next 8 years. His biggest hit came in 1956 with "Blueberry Hill," a song that had previously been sung by Glen Miller and Louis Armstrong. His version reached Number Two on the pop chart.

Despite his hit filled career, Fats would never the pop charts. After "Blueberry Hill" established him as a musical star, the hits came fast and furious. Some of Domino's best songs from the late 50s include "Blue Monday," "I'm Walkin'," "It's Your Love," "I'm Ready," and "Walking to New Orleans."

The secret to the appeal of Fats' music was just plain rhythm. As he put it, "You got to keep a good beat. The rhythms that we play are from New Orleans." As far as he was concerned, he was just playing the music that he had already been playing for years and he would continue singing and playing in the same fashion even after his music was dubbed “rock and roll.” Perhaps this statement is best represented in Domino's song "The Big Beat."

Because he was highly visible in the late 50s, Fats appeared in several movies and partook in many of the big tours of the day. While he lacked the charisma of some of his contemporaries, Domino was easygoing and got by on the rhythms and solid foundation of his music. Down to earth and likeable, he is the most underappreciated star of rock and roll's first age. His gentle temperament and immense talent assured his success.

When The Beatles came to town, they dented the careers of 50s rock and roll singers including Fats Domino, whose hit parade came to an end in 1964. He had just one more hit when he covered The Beatles' "Lady Madonna," a song written specifically with Fats' boogie style in mind.

Revered as a pioneer of rock n' roll, Fats' influence on artists has shown itself in the piano playing skills of artists like Elton John and Paul McCartney, but I would said that the artist that has inherited Domino's style the most is Billy Joel. Don't believe me? Just take a listen to one of Billy's more softer songs like "New York State of Mind" or "She's Always a Woman."

Personally, I like Fats Domino because of his relaxed tone, his warm vocals and his soft piano playing style.

Posted by Andrew on Saturday, 03/8/2014 @ 21:28pm

The most popular performer of the classic New Orleans R&B sound, Fats Domino may not have been the most flamboyant, threatening, or innovative rock and roll singer of the 50s, but he certainly was the singer who was most rooted in the blues, rhythm and blues and various strains of jazz that gave birth to rock n' roll.

With a gentle boogie-woogie piano playing style, warm vocals, a slow way of singing, and Creole inflected vocals, Domino helped put New Orleans on the musical map during the dawn of rock n' roll. In fact, he was a huge figure in the transition from R&B to rock and roll. A transition so subtle that the lines between these two different musical styles often bordered on insignificance.

Born in 1928, Fats ultimately sold more records then any other 50s rock and roll singer except Elvis Presley. Between 1950 and 1963, he made the pop charts 63 times and the R&B charts 59 times. Incredible as it might be, Domino scored more hits than Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly, and Little Richard all combined.

His debut single, "The Fat Man," is one of dozens of songs that could be a candidate for the first rock n' roll song and at the least, it was a milestone rhythm and blues song that heralded a new age in American popular music.

A string of hits followed "The Fat Man," such as "Goin' Home," "Going to the River," and "Please Don't Leave Me." Still, Domino's success was limited to the R&B charts until 1952, when "Goin' Home" hit the pop charts and "Going to the River," the following year, but his major crossover hit came in 1955 with "Ain't That A Shame."

He experienced extraordinary success in the rapidly glowing rock n' roll market in the latter half of the 50s. "Ain't That A Shame" was the first in a string 37 crossover hits for Fats over the next 8 years. His biggest hit came in 1956 with "Blueberry Hill," a song that had previously been sung by Glen Miller and Louis Armstrong. His version reached Number Two on the pop chart.

Despite his hit filled career, Fats would never the pop charts. After "Blueberry Hill" established him as a musical star, the hits came fast and furious. Some of Domino's best songs from the late 50s include "Blue Monday," "I'm Walkin'," "It's Your Love," "I'm Ready," and "Walking to New Orleans."

The secret to the appeal of Fats' music was just plain rhythm. As he put it, "You got to keep a good beat. The rhythms that we play are from New Orleans." As far as he was concerned, he was just playing the music that he had already been playing for years and he would continue singing and playing in the same fashion even after his music was dubbed “rock and roll.” Perhaps this statement is best represented in Domino's song "The Big Beat."

Because he was highly visible in the late 50s, Fats appeared in several movies and partook in many of the big tours of the day. While he lacked the charisma of some of his contemporaries, Domino was easygoing and got by on the rhythms and solid foundation of his music. Down to earth and likeable, he is the most underappreciated star of rock and roll's first age. His gentle temperament and immense talent assured his success.

When The Beatles came to town, they dented the careers of 50s rock and roll singers including Fats Domino, whose hit parade came to an end in 1964. He had just one more hit when he covered The Beatles' "Lady Madonna," a song written specifically with Fats' boogie style in mind.

Revered as a pioneer of rock n' roll, Fats' influence on artists has shown itself in the piano playing skills of artists like Elton John and Paul McCartney, but I would said that the artist that has inherited Domino's style the most is Billy Joel. Don't believe me? Just take a listen to one of Billy's more softer songs like "New York State of Mind" or "She's Always a Woman."

Personally, I like Fats Domino because of his relaxed tone, his warm vocals and his soft piano playing style.

Posted by Andrew on Saturday, 03/8/2014 @ 21:28pm

RIP Fats

Posted by Gassman on Wednesday, 10/25/2017 @ 10:45am

Eerie for me. I was just talking to someone about how Fats is the oldest surviving significant rocker. :( Rest in peace, Fat Man.

Posted by Paul K. on Wednesday, 10/25/2017 @ 11:17am

Fats Domino

Posted by Roy on Wednesday, 10/25/2017 @ 12:03pm

R.I.P. to an amazingly talented legend (seriously, listen to some of his piano runs on his earlier Imperial singles [particularly Boogie Woogie Baby, She's My Baby, and Hey! La Bas Boogie]), which I'm listening to as I type this message). The Legendary Imperial Recordings box set is essential listening for anyone who even considers themselves a Fats Domino fan.

Man, I can imagine the piano jams Fats must be having with Professor Longhair, Champion Jack Dupree, and others. The world is poorer without their physical presence, but we'll always have the studio/live recordings and concert/TV/movie performances to enjoy.

Posted by Zach on Saturday, 10/28/2017 @ 00:17am