Antoine “Fats” Domino Jr., born February 26, 1928, in New Orleans, Louisiana, was a pioneering R&B and rock & roll pianist and singer whose smooth voice and infectious piano style made him a global star. Raised in the Lower Ninth Ward, Domino was one of nine children in a Creole family. His father played violin, and his brother-in-law, Harrison Verrett, taught him piano at age seven. Domino’s early influences included boogie-woogie pianists like Meade Lux Lewis and New Orleans’ own Professor Longhair.
Domino began performing in local bars at 14, adopting the nickname “Fats” due to his stocky build and love for food. In 1949, he was discovered by bandleader Dave Bartholomew at the Hideaway Club, leading to a contract with Imperial Records. His first single, “The Fat Man” (1949), a reworking of the traditional “Junker’s Blues,” became a hit, selling over a million copies and establishing him as a major R&B artist. His rollicking piano triplets and warm vocals defined his sound.
Domino’s breakthrough to mainstream success came in the 1950s with hits like “Ain’t That a Shame” (1955) and “Blueberry Hill” (1956), which crossed over to pop charts and appealed to both Black and white audiences. Working with Bartholomew, he recorded over 60 charting singles, selling millions of records. His easygoing persona and consistent hits made him a rock & roll pioneer, influencing artists like Elvis Presley. Domino continued performing into the 1990s, staying rooted in New Orleans. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1986 and died on October 24, 2017.
