Antoine Domino was born on February 26, 1928, in New Orleans, Louisiana. He learned how to play piano as a child from his brother-in-law, who was twenty years his senior. French was his first language, and he was ten years of age when he performed for the first time. He left school at 14 and worked days in a factory so that his nights were free to perform in local nightclubs. He continued to do this into the 1940s, and was finally heard by David Bartholomew who would become his writing partner. He joined Bartholomew’s band in the mid 1940s, and was greatly influenced by the music of Fats Waller and Albert Ammons, to name a few.
In 1949, he signed a contract with Imperial records and his first commercial release was a song about drugs called “The Fat Man,” which reached the R & B chart in 1950. His nickname of Fats derived from this song, and he was forevermore known as “Fats” Domino. In 1952, he had another hit with “Goin’ Home,” but it would take another three years for him to explode upon the rock n’ roll scene with his song, “Ain?t That A Shame.” Recorded by Pat Boone as well, this song made stars of both singers. Boone’s version reached number one on the charts; Domino?s number 10.
Fats Domino hit the Mother Lode in 1956 with two big hits, “I’m In Love Again” and his own rendition of an old Glenn Miller tune, “Blueberry Hill,”which went to number 2 on the charts, the highest he had achieved to date. The year 1957 brought even more success with hi timely appearance in the greatest rock n’ roll movie of all time, “The Girl Can?t Help It,” in which he introduced what would be another big hit, “Blue Monday.” The hits continued for Fats and his version of the old standard, “Red Sails In The Sunset” was his last top forty song in 1963.
Fats Domino was inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986. He appeared in some films and did many tours until failing health made him cancel one in the 1990s. He is retired now and lives in New Orleans with his wife, Rosemary, to whom he has been married since 1948. The couple has eight children. When Hurricane Katrina was approaching New Orleans, he decided to remain at home and was rescued from certain death by a Coast Guard helicopter.
What are some of YOUR favorite Fats Domino songs? Please share.