Yesterday, rock legend Fats Domino passed away at his daughter's home in New Orleans. A family friend by the name of Haydee Ellis confirmed the sad news to NPR, who also reported that Domino passed away from natural causes. Fats was 89 years old.
It's safe to say that Domino lived an eventful and impactful life, having lived through nearly eight decades of music. In the 1940s, Fats Domino was working at a mattress factory by day and playing piano by night, steady gaining fans in the process. He eventually was dubbed Fats by a band leader, which eventually led to his first million-selling record "The Fat Man." Due to his lively and passionate performance, Fats gained a reputation as one of the genre's must-see acts, and it wasn't long before he was signed to Imperial Records.
Commercially, Fats Domino landed on the RNB charts 59 times, with 63 appearances on the pop charts. His numbers were higher than the combined sales of Chuck Berry, Little Richard, and Buddy Holly, topped only by the legendary Elvis Presley. Interestingly enough, Presley was reported to have called Fats the original "master."
Fats went on to enjoy a long and storied career, breaking racial divides during an era of the Jim Crow South. On a musical tip, Fats was noted as one of the early pioneers of piano triplets in rock music, and for that, his contributions to the game will forever be immortalized. Looking back on his history shows an inspirational and fascinating musician, who overcame racial hardship in order to share his music with the world.
If you're unfamiliar with Fats Domino, check out his breakout single "Fat Man" below. Rest in peace to a pioneer.
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