Photo by Heinrich Klaffs, Creative Commons
Fats Domino in 1973 performing in the Musikhalle Hamburg, Germany.

One of the founding fathers of rock ’n’ roll, Fats Domino (AFM Local 174-496) injected a Creole-infused shot of rhythm and blues, jazz and boogie woogie to the genre.

He was born Antoine Dominique Domino Jr. on Feb. 26, 1928 in New Orleans, where he began playing local nightclubs at age 14. Throughout his astounding career, Domino sold over 65 million records whose hits hits include “Blueberry Hill,” “Ain’t That a Shame,” “I’m Walkin’ ” and his version of “My Blue Heaven.”

His remarkable abilities on the piano proved that the instrument had as vital a place in rock ’n’ roll as the guitar.

Domino died Oct. 24, 2017, at 89.

Remembering Fats

Domino’s 1968 album “Fats is Back” includes his renditions of Beatles songs “Lovely Rita” and “Lady Madonna,” recorded in Los Angeles in 1965.

I’m very saddened by the passing of Fats Domino. Local 47 was chosen by Fats and his producers to hire myself and a few members of our Local to record a few of his earliest major hits. While filming one of his early rock and roll films in New York, Fats realized that, while coming back to Hollywood to do a few pickup shots for his film, he still needed several more songs for one of his early albums started in New York. In between these pickup shots, we recorded some of his early hits.

I never realized that I would someday become a rock and roll brother inducted into the prestigious Rock and Roll Hall of Fame along with Fats and so many others.

Rest in peace Fats, your legacy will live on forever and I humbly thank you for the opportunity to be a part of that legacy and our AF of M Local 47 brotherhood. God bless us all!

– Hal Blaine, Life Member