Toussaint has hundreds of hits to his name and received the Recording Academy Trustees Award during the 2009 Grammy Awards. It would later become an inspirational anthem for New Orleans residents rebuilding in the aftermath of Katrina. As co-founder and President of NolaVie, it was a joy to have Allen participate in a very special NolaVie/Prospect 3 art and technology presentation at the Historic New Orleans Collection, produced by MIT Media Lab artist Xiao Xiao, another New Orleans artist.
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He dropped out of high school to pursue a career in music. During his time with Minit and Instant, Toussaint wrote and produced Ernie K-Doe’s number one hit “Mother-in-Law”, as well as Lee Dorsey’s “Working in the Coal Mine”, “Ride Your Pony”, and “Holy Cow”, along with countless New Orleans favorites like “A Certain Girl”, and “Tain’t it the Truth”.
While serving as an Army musician from 1963 to 1965, Mr. Toussaint heard Hirt’s version of his tune “Java” climb the charts, much to the amusement of his fellow military musicians. In addition to penning this jam, Toussaint contributed piano, backing vocals and arrangements to the album, which also features the Meters behind Dr. John. I remember my dad driving me past his music studio in the Gentilly neighborhood of New Orleans, but we never went in.
“I have no idea how I came up with that, but from then on I had those chats”. He’s a perfectionist. And he kept a fresh sound that was appropriate to every performer. He and Costello performed around the world to promote the album, alternating songs from their respective catalogs and their joint album. “The city’s soul is alive and well in New Orleans, and I just love that”.
“Songbook”, Allen Toussaint (2013): A career capstone, with Toussaint’s graceful vocals and masterly piano bringing out a deep personal connection to decades’ worth of timeless songs. “When at a loss for words, just doodle on the piano, I know that’s what Allen would do”.
In 2005, Toussaint was forced to flee New Orleans in wake of Hurricane Katrina. Most recently, President Obama himself awarded him the National Medal of Arts at a special White House ceremony.
“Allen has devoted his musical talent to lifting up and building up a city”, Obama said. – “He was like family – we’ve been knowing each other for 50-something years”, Thomas told Gambit. “He was a picture of health, that’s why it’s such a shock to everyone”, she says. “His songs will be cherished by people like me who will have fond memories of Allen forever”. So sudden it is hard to believe.
True indeed. Allen Toussaint will be sorely missed.
“I don’t know how his mom put up with all of us in there all the time”.
No musician has ever made me more aware of a sense of place. He’s played a major role on the cultural landscape, but he also played a big part in my own life.
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By the 1980s, Toussaint’s own recording career had tapered off, though he continued to produce and promote other artists via his NYNO Records label.
