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PEOPLE & ARTS Thursday 26 OcTOber 2017
Fats Domino, rock ‘n’ roll pioneer has died at age 89

By JANET MCCONNAUGHEY “Blueberry Hill” was select- ino played “I’m Walkin’,”
and KEVIN MCGILL ed for the Library of Con- ‘’Ain’t It a Shame,” ‘’Shake,
Associated Press gress’ National Recording Rattle and Roll,” ‘’Blueberry
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Fats Registry of historic sound Hill” and a host of other hits.
Domino, the amiable rock recordings worthy of pres- That performance was a
‘n’ roll pioneer whose ervation. highlight during several
steady, pounding piano The preservation board rough years. After losing
and easy baritone helped noted that Domino insisted their home and almost
change popular music on performing the song de- all their belongings to the
while honoring the tradi- spite his producer’s doubts, floods, his wife of more than
tions of the Crescent City, adding that Domino’s 50 years, Rosemary, died in
has died. He was 89. “New Orleans roots are evi- April 2008.
Mark Bone, chief investiga- dent in the Creole inflected Domino moved to the New
tor with the Jefferson Parish, cadences that add rich- Orleans suburb of Harvey
Louisiana, coroner’s office, ness and depth to the per- after the storm but would
said Domino died of natu- formance.” often visit his publishing
ral causes early Tuesday. Domino became a global house, an extension of his In this Nov. 5, 2008 file photo, Fats Domino waves to fans before
In appearance, he was star but stayed true to his old home in the Lower 9th a ceremony re-presenting two Grammy awards to replace
no matinee idol. He stood hometown, where his fate Ward, inspiring many with the ones that he lost from Hurricane Katrina’s flooding in New
5-feet-5 and weighed was initially unknown after his determination to stay in Orleans.
more than 200 pounds, Hurricane Katrina struck in the city he loved. Associated Press
with a wide, boyish smile August 2005. It turned out “Fats embodies everything and worked days in a fac- “Ain’t That a Shame” and
and a haircut as flat as an that he and his family were good about New Orleans,” tory while playing and sing- rocked out decades later
album cover. But Domino rescued by boat from his his friend David Lind said ing in local juke joints at under that title by Cheap
sold more than 110 million home, where he lost three in a 2008 interview. “He’s night. In 1949, Domino was Trick and others. Domino
records, with hits including pianos and dozens of gold warm, fun-loving, spiritual, playing at the Hideaway enjoyed a parade of suc-
“Blueberry Hill,” ‘’Ain’t That and platinum records, creative and humble. You Club for $3 a week when cesses through the early
a Shame” — originally titled along with other memora- don’t get more New Or- he was signed by Imperial 1960s, including “Be My
“Ain’t It A Shame”— and bilia. leans than that.” record company. Guest” and “I’m Ready.”
other standards of rock ‘n’ Many wondered if he The son of a violin player, He recorded his first song, Another hit, “I’m Walkin,’”
roll. would ever return to the Antoine Domino Jr. was “The Fat Man,” in the back became the debut single
His dynamic performance stage. Scheduled to per- born on Feb. 26, 1928, to a of a tiny French Quarter re- for Ricky Nelson.
style and warm vocals form at the New Orleans family that grew to include cording studio. Domino told Ebony maga-
drew crowds for five de- Jazz and Heritage Festival nine children. As a youth, “They call me the Fat zine that he stopped re-
cades. One of his show- in 2006, he simply tipped his he taught himself popu- Man, because I weigh 200 cording because compa-
stopping stunts was playing hat to thousands of cheer- lar piano styles — ragtime, pounds,” he sang. “All the nies wanted him to update
the piano while standing, ing fans. blues and boogie-woogie girls, they love me, ‘cause I his style.
throwing his body against But in May 2007, he was — after his cousin left an know my way around.” “I refused to change,” he
it with the beat of the mu- back, performing at Tipi- old upright in the house. In 1955, he broke into the said. “I had to stick to my
sic and bumping the grand tina’s music club in New Fats Waller and Albert Am- white pop charts with own style that I’ve always
piano across the stage. Orleans. Fans cheered — mons were early influences. “Ain’t it a Shame,” covered used or it just wouldn’t be
Domino’s 1956 version of and some cried — as Dom- He quit school at age 14, blandly by Pat Boone as me.” q

Ludacris promises ‘a lot of tears’ on YouTube music series

By MARK KENNEDY who best covered one of and get noticed,” he said.
AP Entertainment Writer their songs from hundreds “A lot of these kids are strug-
NEW YORK (AP) — Ludac- of video submissions and in- gling and they’re working
ris is hoping the new mu- vite them to Los Angeles for so hard to build a fan base.
sic competition series he’s a chance to sing with their This is not only an opportu-
hosting on YouTube will idol. nity to live out one of their
take an aspiring artist and “I can just say there are a dreams with their favorite
“catapult them to super- lot of tears involved,” said artists, but to continue to
stardom.” Ludacris. “I think some of try to catapult them to su-
The “Money Maker” rapper the best moments are the perstardom and give them
is host of “Best.Cover.Ever,” ones where you don’t real- that little boost that they
which pairs budding musi- ize how hard people have need.”
cians with established stars been working and how The online series is the sec-
for a shot at performing a hard they’ve been strug- ond Ludacris has hosted. He
duet on the online giant. gling to make ends meet also is the host of the “Fear
The 10-episode series de- to continue on with their Factor” revival on MTV,
buts Nov. 20 . dreams.” which has been booked for
The series stars Demi Lova- The season kicked off this a second season.
to, Katy Perry, Keith Urban, summer with calls for cov- In this May 22, 2016 file photo, Ludacris poses in the press room “You know what? I’m just
Jason Derulo, Charlie Puth, ers by the 10 music acts. at the Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas. crossing a lot of things off
the Backstreet Boys, Flo Fans were asked to submit Associated Press of the bucket list,” he said.
Rida, Nicky Jam, DNCE and their videos of such songs Derulo’s “Trumpets.” was a kid, I always loved “There are certain things
Bebe Rexha. as Lovato’s “Confident,” It’s an opportunity Ludacris LL Cool J. It would have that I’ve always wanted
During each roughly Perry’s “Firework,” Urban’s said he would have adored been a dream come true if to do and I just love taking
30-minute episode, the “Somewhere in My Car,” when he was first starting I could have sung ‘I’m Bad’ advantage of all aspects
music stars pick two artists DNCE’s “Toothbrush” and out. “I remember when I or one of his songs with him of entertainment.”q