"I Found My Thrill On Blueberry Hill': Fats Domino--The Legacy, The Legend

Fats Domino is nothing short of an international icon. 

He wrote the first rock album in history. He arguably invented reggae. Elvis called him “the real king of rock ’n roll.” The Beatles covered his songs and called him a “huge influence.” He’s been covered by more great musicians than we have room to list: Louis Armstrong, Elton John, Neil Young, Robert Plant, Randy Newman and Tom Petty, among others. He even started the trend of musicians wearing bling. 

His artistry shaped popular music for more than half a century, and his influence is still evident today in the music of artists all over the world. Not bad for a guy who hated touring, because he hated the food everywhere but his beloved hometown, New Orleans.  

Fats Domino, a man the word “legend” doesn’t even seem to live up to, passed away at home on October 25th, of natural causes. He was 89. 

His accomplishments are mind-boggling: He was one of the first black performers on pop music television, and his music was chosen to be preserved in the Library of Congress as a cornerstone of American culture. He won a Lifetime Achievement Grammy and President Bill Clinton gave him a National Medal of the Arts. 

He lived his whole life in the Ninth Ward of New Orleans until he had to flee the floods caused by Hurricane Katrina. Though he was initially reported to be missing and the world was afraid he had passed away, he had actually been rescued by a Coast Guard helicopter. Unfortunately, the storm destroyed his home, which forced him to move to Harvey. President George W. Bush came to New Orleans to bring him a new National Medal of the Arts, to replace the one he had lost. 

RIP, Fats. Your legacy is so HUGE it defies the imagination. You left us shoes that are impossible to fill. But your work is a treasure we’ll always be grateful for. You will be missed.