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Allen Toussaint

 


Record producer, singer, songwriter, arranger, musician and New Orleans music legend Allen Toussaint was born into an exceptionally musical family and home in Gert Town, New Orleans, Louisiana on January 14, 1938. He learned piano as a child, with a neighbour, Ernest Pinn, giving him lessons. In his teens he played in a band called “The Flamingos”. When he was 17 he stood in for Huey Piano Smith in Prichard, Alabama, and Dave Bartholomew became his mentor. He sometimes used the names Naomi Neville (his mother’s name) and Clarence Toussaint (his father) for songwriting credits. He was a. His successes were many with singers including Ernie K Doe and Lee Dorsey. His first recording was under the name of Al Tousan. His home and recording studio were destroyed in Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Unfortunately after a long and distinguished career, Mr Toussaint died while touring in Madrid, Spain after a heart attack at his hotel on November 10, 2015.

Image: Michael Wilson/Minneapolis City Pages

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