Tuesday, November 10, 2015

Allen Toussaint, 1938-2015



I don't know where to begin with this one. I'm at a loss.

The Beatles completely changed my life as a kid. Allen Toussaint changed my life as an adult.

New Orleans...the world... has lost a treasure.








12 comments:

Dr Wu said...

http://youtu.be/mQyf6gpdpbY

kevin m said...

Today is my first day back at work after a 10 day vacation so already my mood was sour. Now this news. Really sad. Only saw him twice but each time he was magnificent.

Joe said...

He was one of my musical heroes. I would buy a record solely because his name was listed in the credits. If I put all of my records/cds that list him as an artist, producer or sideman, it would be bigger that most people's record collections.

He had a great run at Joe's Pub and I was fortunate to have seen him there.

Tonight, I will play "When the Party's Over" and toast that great man.

joe

Bill said...

Very sad. I first knew of him through the Lee Dorsey records, then got to explore all the different artists he touched or influenced. And I really loved the record he recorded with Elvis Costello.

buzzbabyjesus said...

Words fail.

Jim G said...

Was just playing Crescent City Gold yesterday. A class act and a huge loss to music. Never got to see him and now the party's over. RIP sir.

Anonymous said...

I was 18 years old in 1976 and worked a show he played at the Kingfish in Baton Rouge that was amazing....and then saw him at that year's NO Jazz & Heritage Fesitval and it blew me away. And I was heavy into punk (played in a punk band). Incredible.

He was an international treasure.

What an enormous loss for us all.

Robin said...

Oh my heart. Thanks for all the wonderful music Allen Toussaint, what a lovely, brilliant star you were shining on all of us for too brief a time.

sclinchy said...

This is sad and shocking. My wife and I saw him perform with Irma Thomas in New Orleans two weeks ago. He seemed in great shape. I had the privilege of shaking his hand and thanking him after the show. The following day we saw him on Royal Street, encouraging street musicians, greeting fans and taking pictures.

A great loss.

Gene Oberto said...

In 2009, I saw him here in Stockholm at the annual summer festival. His label at the time was sponsoring a tour with Dr. John and the Blind Boys from Alabama. He played on a big stage in the afternoon and made the outdoors feel like a club gig. I am privileged to see this giant play. The band in heaven is about to get a lot tighter.

Priez Dieu pour les fideles trépassés.
Requiescat in pace.

hpunch said...

A true gent, one of the few musicians deserving of the "genius" tag. An incredible songwriter, arranger, producer, pianist, pioneer.
A very sad day, and very sad loss.

soundsource said...

The sky is crying