One of the good ones left us today (Oct 25, 2017). Fats Domino died of natural causes at his home in Harvey, Louisiana. This guy was the man back in the 50s. Five records Certified Gold. He sold over 65 million discs. The Fat Man was rockin New Orleans bars at age 14. By age 20, he had sold a million copies of his record, "The Fat Man,"--the first rock & roll record to achieve those numbers.
"Aint' That a Shame," "Blueberry Hill," and a string of hits followed. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1986 and just last year the Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame. He outsold any artist throughout the 50s except perhaps Elvis. He influenced Chuck Berry, Elvis, The Beatles and many other artists down through the years. When Elvis was addressed in 1969 as "The King," at his first concert at the Las Vegas Hilton, Presley gestured toward Domino who had come to see the show and said, "No, that's the real king of rock and roll."
Go to youtube and listen to a couple of Fats' songs and you can't help but hear a characteristic rhythm in his music that became part of the foundation of rock and blues. It was a big gift, from a big man. Thanks Fat Man.