Fats Domino

USA, 1949–2017

New Orleans singer and pianist whose rolling triplet figures underpinned some 65 million records sold, among them 'Ain't That a Shame' and 'Blueberry Hill'. He was one of the first rock and roll artists to reach a mass audience.

MusicRoots documents 2 artists who influenced Fats Domino and 7 artists Fats Domino influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.

Who influenced Fats Domino?

• Albert Ammons — Domino's rolling piano triplets grew from the boogie-woogie school — he named Albert Ammons the pianist he learned from on records.
• Louis Jordan — Jordan's jump blues was the commercial and rhythmic model for the New Orleans R&B Domino and Bartholomew perfected.

Which artists did Fats Domino influence?

• Prince Buster — Prince Buster credited his early musical grounding to American R&B heard on the sound systems, citing records like Fats Domino's 'Mardi Gras in New Orleans'.
• Clarence 'Frogman' Henry — Henry's whole New Orleans piano-and-croak style follows Fats Domino — 'Ain't Got No Home' rode the Domino sound.
• Elvis Presley — At his 1969 comeback press conference Elvis pointed to Domino: 'that's the real king of rock and roll' — a documented lifelong debt to the New Orleans sound.
• Dr. John — Fats Domino's rolling New Orleans piano and easy R&B were part of the local tradition Dr. John absorbed and extended.
• Jimmy Cliff — The New Orleans R&B of Fats Domino was among the American sounds feeding Cliff's early ska and reggae.
• Lloyd Price — Fats Domino played piano on 'Lawdy Miss Clawdy' — the New Orleans R&B tradition Price helped define grew from Domino's rolling style.
• Randy Newman — The New Orleans piano R&B of Fats Domino is at the root of Newman's rolling keyboard style.