Allen Toussaint
Allen Toussaint (; January 14,1938 - November 10,2015) was an American musician, songwriter-composer, record producer, and influential figure in New Orleans R&B.
Many of Toussaint' s songs became familiar through cover versions by other musicians, including" Working in the Coal Mine" ," Ride Your Pony" ," Fortune Teller" ," Play Something Sweet" ," Southern Nights" ," Everything I Do Gonna Be Funky" ," I' ll Take a Melody" ," Get Out of My Life, Woman" and" Mother-in-Law" .
Early life
Toussaint was born in Gert Town, New Orleans. He was raised in Gert Town and in New Orleans. His mother was Naomi Neville.
Career
In 1960, Toussaint was hired as a record producer by a label in New Orleans. He was also looking for new talent to sign to the label, named Minit Records. Toussaint played piano, wrote, and produced many hit records in the early and mid 1960s for New Orleans R&B artists. Some examples are:
Jessie Hill' s" Ooh Poo Pah Doo" Ernie K-Doe' s" Mother-in-Law" , written by Toussaint
Chris Kenner' s" I Like It Like That" " Ruler of My Heart" , recorded by Irma Thomas. This song was later recorded again by Otis Redding (with the title" Pain in My Heart" ), and by The Rolling Stones on their second album.
In 1964," A Certain Girl" (originally by Ernie K-Doe) was the B-side of the first single by The Yardbirds; the song was released again in 1980 by Warren Zevon.
Honors
In 1998, Toussaint was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and in 2009 into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame. On May 9,2011, he was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame.
In 2013 he was awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Barack Obama.
Death
Toussaint died while touring in Madrid, Spain after suffering a heart attack at his hotel, aged 77.
Toussaint's two marriages ended in divorce. He is survived by his two children, son Clarence (better known as Reginald) and daughter Alison, and by several grandchildren. His children had managed his career in recent years.
References
Other websites
Audio interview with Allen Toussaint on the Sodajerker On Songwriting podcast
Allen Toussaint profile, NPR. org; accessed October 5,2014.
Allen Toussaint profile, discogs. com; accessed October 5,2014.
[ Allen Toussaint profile], allmusic. com; accessed October 5,2014.
Allen Toussaint NYNO Records profile, nynorecords. com; accessed October 5,2014.
List of chart records written by Toussaint, MusicVF. com, accessed November 11,2015
Allen Toussaint profile, preshallben. tumblr. com, October 5,2014.
1938 births
2015 deaths
African American musicians
American blues musicians
American composers
American jazz musicians
American pianists
American R&B musicians
American record producers
American songwriters
American soul musicians
Deaths from myocardial infarction
Musicians from New Orleans