Fats (Antoine) Domino

By Jena Redwanski



Fats Domino was born in 1928 to a family in New Orleans, Louisiana. His first spoken language was French, but spoke English fluently as well. 

Fats played the piano and was deeply influenced by Fats Waller and Albert Ammons. 

He began performing publicly when he was only 10 years of age and quit school at 14 so that he could perform at night-clubs. His career blossomed soon thereafter.

In 1946, a man named Lew Chudd opened Imperial Records which would soon become the Rhythm and Blues headquarters of New Orleans. 

Chudd began recording R&B records around 1947, and brought in his own artists shortly after.

Fats Domino began working for Lew Chudd after Dave Bartholomew heard him perform and asked him to join the Dave Bartholomew Band. 

Fats played with the band from the mid to the late 1940’s and signed with Imperial Records in 1949. 

His first recording with Imperial was the hit song “The Fat Man”, which was formerly named “Junker‘s Blues“.

 “The Fat Man” reached the sixth spot on the Billboard R&B Charts in 1950 and also gave him the oh so famous nickname Fats. 

Considered to be one of the most important artists to record for Imperial Records, Fats worked alongside T-Bone Walker and Smiley Lewis. 

In 1955, Fats watched another one of his songs float it’s way to the top of the charts. 

This time it was the rock & roll charts with the song “Ain’t That a Shame”, later a number one hit when it was recorded by rock & roll artist Pat Boone. 

A year later, Fats saw five more songs rise up to the top, including “I’m in Love Again” and “Blueberry Hill”, which was a 1940’s hit by Glen Miller. 

Fats was an original New Orleans rocker, mixing the pounding of piano keys with hints of Spanish-Creole rhythm and melodies.

In 1957, Fats appeared in one of the most popular rock & roll films of the 1950’s, The Girl Can’t Help It, singing his hit song “Blue Monday“. 

That same year, Fats helped to launch Ricky Nelson’s career when Nelson covered “I’m Walkin’”, another hit by Fats Domino. 

Fats had his last top ten hit in 1960 with the song “Walkin to New Orleans”. He continued on to have top 40 hits during the 60’s, including “Red Sails in the Sunset”, which was his last top 40 hit. 

The 80’s decade was a good one for Fats, touring again, performing in Las Vegas and London at the Royal Festival Hall. 

Fats was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1986. 

He has received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and has been recognized by the United States Government, receiving the National Medal of Arts, presented by President Bill Clinton in 1998. 

Fats Domino’s latest album was released on July 25, 2006, almost 20 years after it was recorded. 

Before the release, Fats had 35 top 10 hits and had sold about 65 million albums. He currently resides in New Orleans with his wife and eight children.