Fats Domino

Affectionately known as “The Fat Man”

by Erika Cox

Fats Domino was born Antoine Domino on February 26th, 1928 in New Orleans. Being born in New Orleans his musical style was without a doubt the famous New Orleans boogie -woogie based piano style, made famous by legendary rhythm & blues player, Professor Longhair and Cosimo Matassa, the studio owner and engineer who oversaw the rise of the New Orleans sound.

Fats Domino was born into a musical family. His father was a well-known violinist and his brother-in-law taught him how to play the piano when he was a child.

At age fourteen, Fats played the piano well enough to feel confident and music started to consume his life. He no longer had interest in school, so he quit, went to work in a factory and starting playing in nightclubs.

It was in one of these nightclubs that Fats was discovered by Dave Bartholomew, a local A&R man for the West Coast based Imperial Records. He arranged a session for Fats and the result was “the Fat Man”, Fats first hit and one of his first one million sellers.

In 1955, Fats recorded a song “Ain’t that a Shame” that covered by Pat Boone and went to number one. I like to think that Pat Boone’s version was just warming up music lovers for the real thing, for Fats Domino.

All the same, Fats version crossed the color line only going to number ten on the charts. However, Fats still became a huge star with his song and in the end Fats is credited with “Ain’t that a Shame” not Pat Boone.

Blueberry Hill became his biggest hit and soon afterward Fats left Imperial and eventually signed with Mercury. Unlike, some of his fellow artists, Fats had some success in the 60’s even after the 50’s gave way to a new Rock and Roll sound in the 60’s. He came back with a hit with the Beatles’ “Lady Madonna” and a successful album called “Fats is Back”.

Fats vocal style was a unique bugle style falsetto with a sense of warmth, humor and simplicity, which mixed perfectly with the boogie-woogie piano style.

Fats Domino appeared in many movies, starting with the 1957 popular film, The Girl Can’t Help It, singing his popular hit, Blue Monday. He also appeared in several other movies including Shake, Rattle, and Roll, Jamboree, and The Big Beat.

Fats Domino lives in New Orleans with his wife and is the proud Father of eight children. He has been nominated and has received numerous awards and recognitions. Fats Domino is a likeable character and unlike many of his fellow co-founders of Rock and Roll has been able to avoid trouble, drugs, alcohol and burnout.

Perhaps, his laid back style has enabled him to remain level headed, whatever the reason Fats has been able to avoid much of the controversies that have surrounded other artists.

Fats always had crossover appeal and there is no surprise his songs crossed over as soon as they released. Fats Domino was one of the most laid back of the Rock and Roll founders, he was easy going and humorous, and even though he lacked the charismatic style of Elvis Presley or the high strung personality and energy of Little Richard, he was still appealing to music lovers all over the world.

As a performer, he had a charming personality; his records were constant hits selling more than 65 million records. He received more gold records than anyone, except for Elvis and the Beatles.

Fats Domino was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986. A tribute to one of Rock and Roll’s most beloved artist and singer of some of the best and most popular Rock and Roll songs.

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Fats Domino