Fats Domino
The most popular exponent of the classic New Orleans R&B sound, Fats Domino sold more records than any other Black rock & roll star of the 1950s. His relaxed, lolling boogie-woogie piano style and easygoing, warm vocals anchored a long series of national hits from the mid-'50s to the early '60s. Through it all, his basic approach rarely changed. He may not have been one of early rock's most charismatic, innovative, or threatening figures, but he was certainly one of its most consistent.
Domino's first single, "The Fat Man" (1949), is one of the dozens of tracks that have been consistently singled out as a candidate for the first rock & roll record. As far as Fats was concerned, he was just playing what he'd already been doing in New Orleans for years, and would continue to play and sing in pretty much the same fashion even after his music was dubbed "rock & roll."
The record made number two on the R&B charts, and sold a million copies. Just as important, it established a vital partnership between Fats and Imperial A&R man Dave Bartholomew. Bartholomew, himself a trumpeter, would produce Domino's big hits, co-writing many of them with Fats. He would also usually employ New Orleans session greats like Alvin Tyler on sax and Earl Palmer on drums -- musicians who were vital in establishing New Orleans R&B as a distinct entity, playing on many other local recordings as well (including hits made in New Orleans by Georgia native Little Richard).
Domino didn't cross over into the pop charts in a big way until 1955, when "Ain't That a Shame" made the Top Ten. Pat Boone's cover of the song stole some of Fats' thunder, going all the way to number one (Boone was also bowdlerizing Little Richard's early singles for pop hits during this time). Domino's long-range prospects weren't damaged, however; between 1955 and 1963, he racked up an astonishing 35 Top 40 singles. "Blueberry Hill" (1956) was probably his best (and best-remembered) single; "Walking to New Orleans," "Whole Lotta Loving," "I'm Walking," "Blue Monday," and "I'm in Love Again" were also huge successes.
After Fats left Imperial for ABC-Paramount in 1963, he would only enter the Top 40 one more time. The surprise was not that Fats fell out of fashion, but that he'd maintained his popularity so long while the essentials of his style remained unchanged. This was during an era, remember, when most of rock's biggest stars had their careers derailed by death or scandal, or were made to soften up their sound for mainstream consumption. Although an active performer in the ensuing decades, his career as an important artist was essentially over in the mid-'60s. He did stir up a bit of attention in 1968 when he covered the Beatles' "Lady Madonna" single, which had been an obvious homage to Fats' style. Fats Domino died at his home in Harvey, Louisiana in October 2017; he was 89 years old.
© Richie Unterberger /TiVo
Similar artists
-
Fats On Fire
Rock - Released by Goldenlane Records on 1 jan. 1964
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
A Lot Of Dominos
Blues - Released by Parlophone Catalogue on 7 aug. 1960
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Live At Montreux (Live at Montreux)
Rock - Released by Rhino Atlantic on 1 jan. 1974
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
-
This Is Fats Domino (Mono Version)
Pop - Released by BNF Collection on 1 dec. 1956
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
-
Sweet Patootie: Complete Reprise Recordings
Rock - Released by Rhino - Warner Records on 21 dec. 2004
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Good Hearted Man
Pop - Released by Old Time Classics on 1 nov. 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
40 Golden Classics
Soul - Released by Music Manager on 4 mei 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Legends Of Rock n' Roll
Jazz - Released by EMI - EMI Records (USA) on 1 jan. 1962
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
50 Top Hits by Fats Domino
Rock - Released by The Ultimate Fats Domino Records on 28 sep. 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Unique Fats Domino
R&B - Released by Music Manager on 7 feb. 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
20 Rock 'N' Roll Hits (Int'l Only)
Jazz - Released by EMI - EMI Records (USA) on 1 jan. 1995
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Long Live Rock & Roll (Live)
Rock - Released by 1999 GCM - Concert Archive - Delta Music on 5 dec. 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Ultimate Edition (Volume 1)
Rock - Released by Remember that Records on 28 sep. 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Here He Comes Again!
Blues - Released by Parlophone Catalogue on 8 nov. 2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Fats Domino Golden Star Collection
Rock - Released by Domino Star Records on 30 sep. 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Munich Germany 1977
Soul - Released by Goldenlane Records on 1 aug. 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Jambalaya/You Win Again (Medley/Live On The Ed Sullivan Show, March 4, 1962)
Pop - Released by SOFA - AV Catalog DD on 19 jan. 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo