'Fats' Domino Missing in New Orleans>
Thursday, September 01, 2005
>By Roger Friedman
>
>
>Before NBC, MTV or anyone else puts on a telethon to help victims of
>Hurricane Katrina, they might want to explore some ancillary issues.
>To wit: New Orleans is a city famous for its famous musicians, but
>many of them are missing. Missing with a capital M.
>
>To begin with, one of the city's most important legends, Antoine
>"Fats" Domino, has not been heard from since Monday afternoon.
>Domino's rollicking boogie-woogie piano and deep soul voice are not
>only part of the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame but responsible for dozens
>of hits like "Blue Monday," "Ain't That a Shame," "Blueberry Hill" and
>"I'm Walking (Yes, Indeed, I'm Talking)."
>
>Domino, 76, lives with his wife Rosemary and daughter in a three-story
>pink-roofed house in New Orleans' 9th ward, which is now under water.
>
>On Monday afternoon, Domino told his manager, Al Embry of Nashville,
>that he would "ride out the storm" at home. Embry is now frantic.
>
>Calls have been made to Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco's office and to
>various police officials, and though there's lots of sympathetic
>response, the whereabouts of Domino and his family remain a mystery.
>
>In the meantime, another important Louisiana musician who probably
>hasn't been asked to be in any telethons is the also legendary Allen
>Toussaint.
>
>Another Rock Hall member, Toussaint wrote Patti LaBelle's hit "Lady
>Marmalade" and Dr. John's "Right Place, Wrong Time."
>
>His arrangements and orchestrations for hundreds of hit records,
>including his own instrumentals "Whipped Cream" and "Java" are
>American staples. (He also arranged Paul Simon's hit, "Kodachrome.")
>
>Last night, Toussaint was one of the 25,000 people holed up at the New
>Orleans Superdome hoping to get on a bus for Houston's Astrodome. I
>know this because he got a message out to his daughter, who relayed to
>it through friends.
>
>Also not heard from by friends through last night: New Orleans's
>"Queen of Soul" Irma Thomas, who was the original singer of what
>became the Rolling Stones' hit, "Time is On My Side."
>
>Let's hope and pray it is, because while the Stones roll through the
>U.S. on their $450-a-ticket tour, Thomas is missing in action. Her
>club, The Lion's Den, is under water, as are all the famous music hot
>spots of the city.
>
>Similarly, friends are looking for Antoinette K-Doe, widow of New
>Orleans wild performer Ernie K-Doe. The Does have a famous nightspot
>of their own on N. Claiborne Avenue, called the Mother-in-Law Lounge,
>in honor of Ernie's immortal hit, "The Mother-in-Law Song."
>
>Ernie K-Doe, who received a 1998 Pioneer Award from the Rhythm and
>Blues Foundation, died in 2001 at age 65.
>
>Dry and safe, but in not much better shape, is the famous Neville
>family of New Orleans. Aaron Neville and many members of the family
>evacuated on Monday to Memphis, where they are now staying in a hotel.
>
>But most of the Nevilles' homes are destroyed, reports their niece and
>my colleague at "A Current Affair," Arthel Neville. She went down to
>her hometown yesterday and called me from a boat that was trying to
>get near town.
>
>"This isn't like having two feet of water in your basement," she said,
>holding back tears. "Everything is destroyed. I am just so lucky to
>have been born here and to have had the experience of New Orleans."
>
>She confirmed that there had been rumors of dead bodies floating
>around her Uncle Aaron's house yesterday. So far, the Nevilles are
>unannounced to participate in Friday's TV telethon.
>
>And still there are plenty of other famous musicians associated with
>New Orleans who would probably like to be on TV if they're high and
>dry.
>
>The Marsalis family comes from the city, and they've played at most of
>the well known clubs like Tipitina's, The Maple Leaf, Preservation
>Hall and Muddy Waters.
>
>New Orleans is also one of the few cities with a House of Blues. And
>Jimmy Buffet's Margharitaville Cafi chain has a local franchise that
>is still an attraction.
>
>New Orleans' trademark sounds are Cajun and Zydeco. So far none of the
>listed benefits have named an act that plays that kind of music.
Thursday, September 01, 2005
>By Roger Friedman
>
>
>Before NBC, MTV or anyone else puts on a telethon to help victims of
>Hurricane Katrina, they might want to explore some ancillary issues.
>To wit: New Orleans is a city famous for its famous musicians, but
>many of them are missing. Missing with a capital M.
>
>To begin with, one of the city's most important legends, Antoine
>"Fats" Domino, has not been heard from since Monday afternoon.
>Domino's rollicking boogie-woogie piano and deep soul voice are not
>only part of the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame but responsible for dozens
>of hits like "Blue Monday," "Ain't That a Shame," "Blueberry Hill" and
>"I'm Walking (Yes, Indeed, I'm Talking)."
>
>Domino, 76, lives with his wife Rosemary and daughter in a three-story
>pink-roofed house in New Orleans' 9th ward, which is now under water.
>
>On Monday afternoon, Domino told his manager, Al Embry of Nashville,
>that he would "ride out the storm" at home. Embry is now frantic.
>
>Calls have been made to Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco's office and to
>various police officials, and though there's lots of sympathetic
>response, the whereabouts of Domino and his family remain a mystery.
>
>In the meantime, another important Louisiana musician who probably
>hasn't been asked to be in any telethons is the also legendary Allen
>Toussaint.
>
>Another Rock Hall member, Toussaint wrote Patti LaBelle's hit "Lady
>Marmalade" and Dr. John's "Right Place, Wrong Time."
>
>His arrangements and orchestrations for hundreds of hit records,
>including his own instrumentals "Whipped Cream" and "Java" are
>American staples. (He also arranged Paul Simon's hit, "Kodachrome.")
>
>Last night, Toussaint was one of the 25,000 people holed up at the New
>Orleans Superdome hoping to get on a bus for Houston's Astrodome. I
>know this because he got a message out to his daughter, who relayed to
>it through friends.
>
>Also not heard from by friends through last night: New Orleans's
>"Queen of Soul" Irma Thomas, who was the original singer of what
>became the Rolling Stones' hit, "Time is On My Side."
>
>Let's hope and pray it is, because while the Stones roll through the
>U.S. on their $450-a-ticket tour, Thomas is missing in action. Her
>club, The Lion's Den, is under water, as are all the famous music hot
>spots of the city.
>
>Similarly, friends are looking for Antoinette K-Doe, widow of New
>Orleans wild performer Ernie K-Doe. The Does have a famous nightspot
>of their own on N. Claiborne Avenue, called the Mother-in-Law Lounge,
>in honor of Ernie's immortal hit, "The Mother-in-Law Song."
>
>Ernie K-Doe, who received a 1998 Pioneer Award from the Rhythm and
>Blues Foundation, died in 2001 at age 65.
>
>Dry and safe, but in not much better shape, is the famous Neville
>family of New Orleans. Aaron Neville and many members of the family
>evacuated on Monday to Memphis, where they are now staying in a hotel.
>
>But most of the Nevilles' homes are destroyed, reports their niece and
>my colleague at "A Current Affair," Arthel Neville. She went down to
>her hometown yesterday and called me from a boat that was trying to
>get near town.
>
>"This isn't like having two feet of water in your basement," she said,
>holding back tears. "Everything is destroyed. I am just so lucky to
>have been born here and to have had the experience of New Orleans."
>
>She confirmed that there had been rumors of dead bodies floating
>around her Uncle Aaron's house yesterday. So far, the Nevilles are
>unannounced to participate in Friday's TV telethon.
>
>And still there are plenty of other famous musicians associated with
>New Orleans who would probably like to be on TV if they're high and
>dry.
>
>The Marsalis family comes from the city, and they've played at most of
>the well known clubs like Tipitina's, The Maple Leaf, Preservation
>Hall and Muddy Waters.
>
>New Orleans is also one of the few cities with a House of Blues. And
>Jimmy Buffet's Margharitaville Cafi chain has a local franchise that
>is still an attraction.
>
>New Orleans' trademark sounds are Cajun and Zydeco. So far none of the
>listed benefits have named an act that plays that kind of music.
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