Allen Toussaint

Allen Toussaint
Allen Toussaint
	Toussaint in 2009
Background information
Born	January 14, 1938; Gert Town, Louisiana, U.S.
Origin	New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Died	November 10, 2015 (aged 77); Madrid, Spain
Genres	R&B, soul, southern soul, funk, blues, jazz
Occupation(s)	Musician, composer, arranger, record producer
Instruments	Vocals, piano
Years active	1958–2015
Labels	RCA Victor, Scepter, Minit, Instant, Reprise, Warner Bros., Nonesuch, Elektra, Rounder
Associated acts	Merry Clayton; Venetta Fields; Dr. John; The Meters; Irma Thomas; Joan Harmon; Deborah Paul; Sharon Neborn; John Mayall; Etta James; Bonnie Raitt; Rosemary Butler; Elvis Costello; Paul McCartney; The Band; Lee Dorsey; LaBelle

Allen Toussaint (/ˈtuːsɑːnt/; January 14, 1938 – November 10, 2015) was an American musician, songwriter-composer, record producer, and influential figure in New Orleans R&B.

Many of Toussaint's songs became familiar through cover versions by other musicians, including "Working in the Coal Mine", "Ride Your Pony", "Fortune Teller", "Play Something Sweet", "Southern Nights", "Everything I Do Gonna Be Funky", "I'll Take a Melody", "Get Out of My Life, Woman" and "Mother-in-Law".

Early life

Toussaint was born in Gert Town, New Orleans. He was raised in Gert Town and in New Orleans. His mother was Naomi Neville.

Career

In 1960, Toussaint was hired as a record producer by a label in New Orleans. He was also looking for new talent to sign to the label, named Minit Records. Toussaint played piano, wrote, and produced many hit records in the early and mid 1960s for New Orleans R&B artists.^[1] Some examples are:

Jessie Hill's "Ooh Poo Pah Doo"
Ernie K-Doe's "Mother-in-Law", written by Toussaint
Chris Kenner's "I Like It Like That"
"Ruler of My Heart", recorded by Irma Thomas. This song was later recorded again by Otis Redding (with the title "Pain in My Heart"), and by The Rolling Stones on their second album.
In 1964, "A Certain Girl" (originally by Ernie K-Doe) was the B-side of the first single by The Yardbirds; the song was released again in 1980 by Warren Zevon.

Allen Toussaint receiving the National Medal of Arts in 2013 (pictured with President Obama)

Honors

In 1998, Toussaint was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and in 2009 into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame. On May 9, 2011, he was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame.

In 2013 he was awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Barack Obama.^[2]

Death

Toussaint died while touring in Madrid, Spain after suffering a heart attack at his hotel, aged 77.^[3]^[4]

Toussaint’s two marriages ended in divorce. He is survived by his two children, son Clarence (better known as Reginald) and daughter Alison, and by several grandchildren. His children had managed his career in recent years.^[3]