Fats Domino Passes Away at 89

One of the early founders and stars of Rock and Roll, Fats Domino has died in New Orleans at the age of 89, surrounded by family and friends.

Born Antoine Domino Jr. in 1928, Fats taught himself how to play the piano early in his youth, and was an accomplished musician before he was 20. Chance played a role in the discovery of Fats, as a well-known bandleader accepted an invitation to a local barbecue; Billy Diamond asked Fats to be in his band, the Solid Senders, the house band at the Hideaway Club, in New Orleans. Fat’s eventually signed a recording contract and hit the charts with early rock and roll tunes like “Blueberry Hill,” “Ain’t That a Shame” and “I’m Walkin’.”

In the end, Fats sold more than 65 million albums, earned the coveted Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1987, and would be enshrined in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1986.

Fats Domino, one of the early stars of rock and roll, whose talents and tenacity brought him fame in fortune in the late 50s and early 60s, is gone.

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