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| 'Fats' Domino Missing in New Orleans |
| 2005-09-01 |
| 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 cityâs most important legends, Antoine âFatsâ Domino, has not been heard from since Monday afternoon. Dominoâs 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 âBlue Monday,â âAinât That a Shame,â âBlueberry Hillâ and âIâm Walking (Yes, Indeed, Iâm Talking).â Domino, 76, lives with his wife Rosemary and daughter in a three story pink-roofed house in New Orleansâ 9th ward, which is now underwater. On Monday afternoon, Domino told his manager, Al Embry of Nashville, that he would âride out the stormâ at home. Embry is now frantic. Calls have been made to Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blancoâs office and to various police officials and though thereâs lots of sympathetic response, the whereabouts of Domino and his family remain a mystery. In the meantime, another important Louisiana musician who probably hasnât been asked to be in any telethons is the also legendary Allen Toussaint. Another Rock Hall member, Toussaint wrote Patti Labelleâs hit âLady Marmaladeâ and Dr. Johnâs âRight Place, Wrong Time.â His arrangements and orchestrations for hundreds of hit records, including his own instrumentals âWhipped Creamâ and âJavaâ are American staples. (He also arranged Paul Simonâs hit, âKodachrome.â) Last night, Toussaint was one of the 25,000 people holed up at the New Orleans Superdome hoping to get on a bus for Houstonâs 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 Orleansâs âQueen of Soul,â Irma Thomas, who was the original singer of what became the Rolling Stonesâ hit, âTime is On My Side.â Letâs 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 Lionâs Den is underwater, 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 Ernieâs immortal hit, âThe Mother-in-Law Song.â 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 Nevillesâ homes are destroyed, reports their niece and my colleague at âA Current Affair,â Arthel Neville. She went down to her hometown yesterday and called me from a boat that was trying to get near town. âThis isnât like having two feet of water in your basement,â she said, holding back tears. âEverything 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 Aaronâs house yesterday. So far the Nevilles are unannounced to participate in Fridayâs TV show. And still there are plenty of other famous musicians associated with New Orleans who would probably like to be on TV if theyâre high and dry. The Marsalis family comes from the city, and theyâve played at most of the well known clubs like Tipitinaâs, The Maple Leaf, Preservation Hall and Muddy Waters. New Orleans is also one of the few cities with a House of Blues. And Jimmy Buffetâs Margharitaville Café chain has a local franchise that is still an attraction. New Orleansâs trademark sounds are Cajun and Zydeco. So far none of the listed benefits have named an act that plays that kind of music. |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #12 It's good to hear some good news thanks, |
| Posted by: Jan 2005-09-01 23:34 |
| #11 He was rescued earlier. Link to CNN article Rock 'n' roll pioneer Fats Domino was among the thousands of New Orleans residents plucked from rising floodwaters, his daughter said Thursday. Karen Domino White, who lives in New Jersey, identified her father in a picture taken Monday night by a New Orleans Times-Picayune photographer. The photograph shows Domino -- the singer behind the 1950s hits "Ain't That a Shame" and "Blueberry Hill" -- being helped off a boat near his home in the city's Lower 9th Ward. Alan Warner, an EMI Music executive, also saw the photograph of Domino's rescue. But he said he did not know where the 77-year-old singer, born Antoine Domino, was taken afterward. "But the fact that he actually was rescued is just so gratifying," Warner said. |
| Posted by: Jackal 2005-09-01 22:54 |
| #10 What about Elvis ? Did someone see Elvis ? |
| Posted by: boeboe 2005-09-01 22:33 |
| #9 meow But did I speak an untruth, Shipman dear? |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2005-09-01 22:21 |
| #8 What's this? Rich guys missing? The MSM has been telling us for the past couple of days that all Katrina victims were the poor and down trodden. Another LLL theory shot to sh*t. |
| Posted by: GK 2005-09-01 15:45 |
| #7 their little, but heart-felt, efforts Ima not sure if I need to laugh, cry or take away RantBurgs luxurious scratching post. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2005-09-01 15:03 |
| #6 Public television does the culture thing and British tv quite well, and even small history programs. It's the only place documentary film students have for distribution of their little, but heart-felt, efforts. It's when PBS try to address news, politics and current events that their biases become overwhelming. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2005-09-01 14:19 |
| #5 All these people all have (had?) money. Time will tell if they have/had any brains. I would hope they changed their minds and got out ahead of the storm. Here's hoping they're safe. As for calling the governor, GFL. In a situation like they've got in NO, famous shouldn't get you any special attention. There are plenty of non-famous who are missing, or who need help, too. |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2005-09-01 14:05 |
| #4 I suppose I shouldn't admit I watch public TV, but they broadcast a Fats Domino concert from time to time (that is, during fundraising drives). The guy could play and sing and swing with the best -- a legend for all time. |
| Posted by: Curt Simon 2005-09-01 13:03 |
| #3 Fats is a genius. |
| Posted by: Chris W. 2005-09-01 12:53 |
| #2 It's sad hearing that so many stayed to "ride out the storm". Hope that most are okay, but it's sounding very grim. |
| Posted by: Jan 2005-09-01 12:19 |
| #1 hopen yore safe fats |
| Posted by: muck4doo 2005-09-01 11:59 |