Fats Domino 1928-2017
• Fats Domino was one of the most influential rock and roll performers of the 1950s and 60s.
• Fats Domino sold more than 65 million records – only beaten by Elvis Presley
• His style was a major influence on John Lennon and Paul McCartney (The Beatles)
• His real name was Antoine Domino Jr and he was born on 26 February 1928
• He left school at the age of 14 to work in a bedspring factory by day and to play in bars by night.
• His first hit song was called The Fat Man
• He developed music in an era which had a new and exciting sound – he took over from the established white dominated pop of Frank Sinatra, Rosemary Clooney and Perry Como.
• In 1955 Fats Domino broke into the mainstream pop world with Ain’t That a Shame. The following year he had his biggest hit, Blueberry Hill. Blueberry Hill was originally a Louis Armstrong tune.
• By 1960 he was rivalling Elvis Presley as one of the world’s top selling rock artists.
• Between 1955 and 1963 Fats Domino had 35 Top 40 US singles
• In 1968 he released a version of The Beatles song Lady Madonna
• Fats Domino had eight children and all their names began with the letter A!!
• Fats Domino lived in New Orleans. In 2005 Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans and his house was ruined and most of his possessions, including his gold and platinum discs were destroyed by the floods – he was 77 years old.
• Fats Domino once said “I’m glad that people liked me and my music. I guess it was an interesting life. I didn’t pay much attention, and I never thought I’d be here this long”.
