from RockRap and Roger Friedman:
'Fats' Domino Missing in New Orleans
Thursday, September 01, 2005
By Roger Friedman
Before NBC, MTV or anyone else puts on a telethon to help victims of
Hurricane Katrina, they might want to explore some ancillary issues.
To wit: New Orleans is a city famous for its famous musicians, but
many of them are missing. Missing with a capital M.
To begin with, one of the city's most important legends, Antoine
"Fats" Domino, has not been heard from since Monday afternoon.
Domino's rollicking boogie-woogie piano and deep soul voice are not
only part of the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame but responsible for dozens
of hits like "Blue Monday," "Ain't That a Shame," "Blueberry Hill" and
"I'm Walking (Yes, Indeed, I'm Talking)."
Domino, 76, lives with his wife Rosemary and daughter in a three-story
pink-roofed house in New Orleans' 9th ward, which is now under water.
On Monday afternoon, Domino told his manager, Al Embry of Nashville,
that he would "ride out the storm" at home. Embry is now frantic.
Calls have been made to Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco's office and to
various police officials, and though there's lots of sympathetic
response, the whereabouts of Domino and his family remain a mystery.
In the meantime, another important Louisiana musician who probably
hasn't been asked to be in any telethons is the also legendary Allen
Toussaint.
Another Rock Hall member, Toussaint wrote Patti LaBelle's hit "Lady
Marmalade" and Dr. John's "Right Place, Wrong Time."
His arrangements and orchestrations for hundreds of hit records,
including his own instrumentals "Whipped Cream" and "Java" are
American staples. (He also arranged Paul Simon's hit, "Kodachrome.")
Last night, Toussaint was one of the 25,000 people holed up at the New
Orleans Superdome hoping to get on a bus for Houston's Astrodome. I
know this because he got a message out to his daughter, who relayed to
it through friends.
Also not heard from by friends through last night: New Orleans's
"Queen of Soul" Irma Thomas, who was the original singer of what
became the Rolling Stones' hit, "Time is On My Side."
Let's hope and pray it is, because while the Stones roll through the
U.S. on their $450-a-ticket tour, Thomas is missing in action. Her
club, The Lion's Den, is under water, as are all the famous music hot
spots of the city.
Similarly, friends are looking for Antoinette K-Doe, widow of New
Orleans wild performer Ernie K-Doe. The Does have a famous nightspot
of their own on N. Claiborne Avenue, called the Mother-in-Law Lounge,
in honor of Ernie's immortal hit, "The Mother-in-Law Song."
Ernie K-Doe, who received a 1998 Pioneer Award from the Rhythm and
Blues Foundation, died in 2001 at age 65.
Dry and safe, but in not much better shape, is the famous Neville
family of New Orleans. Aaron Neville and many members of the family
evacuated on Monday to Memphis, where they are now staying in a hotel.
But most of the Nevilles' homes are destroyed, reports their niece and
my colleague at "A Current Affair," Arthel Neville. She went down to
her hometown yesterday and called me from a boat that was trying to
get near town.
"This isn't like having two feet of water in your basement," she said,
holding back tears. "Everything is destroyed. I am just so lucky to
have been born here and to have had the experience of New Orleans."
She confirmed that there had been rumors of dead bodies floating
around her Uncle Aaron's house yesterday. So far, the Nevilles are
unannounced to participate in Friday's TV telethon.
And still there are plenty of other famous musicians associated with
New Orleans who would probably like to be on TV if they're high and
dry.
The Marsalis family comes from the city, and they've played at most of
the well known clubs like Tipitina's, The Maple Leaf, Preservation
Hall and Muddy Waters.
New Orleans is also one of the few cities with a House of Blues. And
Jimmy Buffet's Margharitaville Café chain has a local franchise that
is still an attraction.
New Orleans' trademark sounds are Cajun and Zydeco. So far none of the
listed benefits have named an act that plays that kind of music.
UPDATE: Fats found that evening...
12:48:13 PM 
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