Fats Domino | Biography, Songs, & Facts

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font-serif line-clamp"> <span> <a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/97/22997-050-C3903CA0/Fats-Domino.jpg" data-href="/media/1/168791/18914">Fats Domino</a> <span></span> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <span class="link-blue">(more)</span> </button> </span> </div> </figcaption> </figure> </div><div class="topic-header"> <div class="d-flex align-items-top justify-content-between"> <div class="d-flex flex-column"> <div> <div> <h1>Fats Domino</h1></div> </div> <div class="topic-identifier font-16 font-md-20">American singer and pianist</div> </div> </div> <div class="d-none d-sm-flex flex-row"> <div class="mr-10 mb-15"> <button class="ai-ask-button btn border-2 btn-sm js-inline-ai-ask-button btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400"> Ask the Chatbot a Question </button> </div> <div class="d-none 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Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). </div> <div class="type-menu"> <label for="feedback-type" class="label mb-10">Feedback Type</label> <select id="feedback-type" class="form-select mb-30" name="feedbackTypeId" required> <option value="" selected="selected">Select a type (Required)</option> <option value="1">Factual Correction</option> <option value="2">Spelling/Grammar Correction</option> <option value="3">Link Correction</option> <option value="4">Additional Information</option> <option value="5">Other</option> </select> </div> <label for="feedback" class="label mb-10">Your Feedback</label> <textarea id="feedback" class="form-control mb-30" name="feedback" maxlength="3000" rows="7" required></textarea> <button class="btn btn-blue" type="submit">Submit Feedback</button> </form> <div class="success-messaging d-none mt-30"> <div class="title">Thank you for your feedback</div> <p>Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="md-websites-modal size-lg d-none"> <div class="md-modal-body"> <div class="h2 font-serif pb-15 border-bottom font-weight-bold"> External Websites </div> <div class="pb-20"> <ul class="list-unstyled mt-20 lh-lg"> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.songhall.org/profile/Antoine_Domino" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">Songwriters Hall of Fame - Biography of Antoine “Fats” Domino</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://64parishes.org/entry/fats-domino" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">64 Parishes - Biography of Fats Domino</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.allaboutjazz.com/musicians/fats-domino/" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">All About Jazz - Fats Domino</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-13411718" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">BBC News - Fats Domino: Rock'n'roll pioneer who became one of America's biggest stars</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/10/25/522583856/fats-domino-architect-of-rock-and-roll-dead-at-89" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">NPR - Fats Domino, Architect Of Rock 'N' Roll, Dead At 89</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/fats-domino-timeline-of-dominos-life-hits-and-career-highlights/" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">PBS - American Masters - Fats Domino</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://louisianamusichalloffame.org/fats-domino/" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">Louisiana Music Hall of Fame - Fats Domino</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/885535%7C50750/Fats-Domino#overview" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">Turner Classic Movies - Fats Domino</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.allmusic.com/artist/fats-domino-mn0000137494" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">AllMusic - Biography of Fats Domino</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/domino-antoine-fats-1928/" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">BlackPast - Biography of Fats Domino</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.fatsdominoofficial.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">Official Site of Fats Domino</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://rockhall.com/inductees/fats-domino/" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">Rock and Roll Hall of Fame - Biography of Fats Domino</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="md-websites-ebk-title">Britannica Websites</div> <div class="md-websites-ebk-subtitle">Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.</div> <ul class="list-unstyled bps-topic-web-sites lh-lg"> <li><a class="external" href="https://kids.britannica.com/students/article/Fats-Domino/321656" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fats Domino - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="toc-header-marker"></div> <button class="ai-ask-button btn border-2 js-header-ai-ask-button d-none btn-sm btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400 mr-0 mr-lg-10 ml-5 ml-sm-10 ml-lg-0 p-10"> Ask the Chatbot a Question </button> <div class="caption alternate-titles">Also known as: Antoine Domino, Jr.</div> <div class="md-byline module-spacing "> <div class="font-serif font-12"> <span class="written-by text-gray-700"> Written and fact-checked by </span> <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor" href="/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 text-black">Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor text-decoration-underline"> The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</span></div> <div class="last-updated font-12 font-serif"> <span class="text-gray-700"> Last Updated: <time datetime="2024-10-20T00:00:00CDT" >Oct 20, 2024</time> •</span> <a class="byline-edit-history" href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Fats-Domino/additional-info#history" rel="nofollow">Article History</a> </div></div> </div> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button d-none d-sm-block js-sections-inline-button module-spacing btn d-lg-none"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <div class="d-flex d-sm-none flex-row"> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button js-sections-inline-button module-spacing"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <button class="ai-ask-button btn border-2 ai-ask-button btn border-2 module-spacing btn-sm js-inline-ai-ask-button btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400 p-10 ml-5"> Ask the Chatbot a Question </button> </div> <div class="js-qf-module qf-module px-40 px-sm-20 py-15 mx-auto module-spacing font-14 bg-gray-50 rounded"> <div class="qf-title font-weight-bold font-14 mb-10 text-center"> Quick Facts</div> <div class="facts-list mt-10"> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Byname of: </dt> <dd>Antoine Domino, Jr.</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Born: </dt> <dd>February 26, 1928, <a href="/place/New-Orleans-Louisiana">New Orleans</a>, <a href="/place/Louisiana-state">Louisiana</a>, <a href="/place/United-States">U.S.</a></dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Died: </dt> <dd>October 24, 2017, Harvey, <a href="/place/Louisiana-state">Louisiana</a> (aged 89)</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Also Known As: </dt> <dd>Antoine Domino, Jr.</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Awards And Honors: </dt> <dd><a href="/art/Grammy-Award">Grammy Award</a></dd> <dd><a href="/topic/Rock-and-Roll-Hall-of-Fame-and-Museum">Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum (1986)</a></dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> <div class="text-center"> <a class="btn btn-sm btn-link p-0" href="/facts/Fats-Domino"> See all related content </a> </div> </div> </div> </div><span class="marker before-article"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref1"><span class="marker PREMOD1 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph"><strong><span id="ref666364"></span>Fats Domino</strong> (born February 26, 1928, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/New-Orleans-Louisiana" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">New Orleans</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Louisiana-state" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Louisiana</a>, U.S.—died October 24, 2017, Harvey, Louisiana) was an American singer and pianist, a <a href="https://www.britannica.com/art/rhythm-and-blues" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">rhythm-and-blues</a> star who became one of the first <a href="https://www.britannica.com/art/rock-and-roll-early-style-of-rock-music" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">rock-and-roll</a> stars and who helped define the New Orleans sound. Altogether his relaxed, stylized recordings of the 1950s and ’60s sold some 65 million copies, making him one of the most popular performers of the early <a href="https://www.britannica.com/art/rock-music" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">rock</a> era.</p><span class="marker MOD1 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD2 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">From a musical family, Domino received early training from his brother-in-law, guitarist Harrison Verrett. He began performing in clubs in his teens and in 1949 was discovered by <span id="ref666365"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Dave-Bartholomew" class="md-crosslink ">Dave Bartholomew</a>—the bandleader, songwriter, and record producer who helped bring New Orleans’s J&M Studio to prominence and who became Domino’s <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="exclusive" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exclusive" data-type="MW">exclusive</a> arranger. Domino’s first recording, “<span id="ref1251274"></span>The Fat Man” (1950), became the first of a series of rhythm-and-blues hits that sold 500,000 to 1,000,000 copies. His piano playing consisted of simple rhythmic figures, often only triad chords over a boogie pattern, forcefully played and joined by simple saxophone riffs and drum afterbeats (accents in a measure of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/art/music" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">music</a> that follow the downbeat). These accompanied the smooth, gently swinging vocals he delivered in a small, middle baritone range, with even <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="dynamics" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dynamics" data-type="MW">dynamics</a> and a slight New Orleans accent, all of which made Domino one of the most distinctive rock-and-roll stylists.</p><div class="one-good-fact-module"> </div><span class="marker MOD2 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD3 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">With “Ain’t That a Shame” (1955) Domino became a favourite of white as well as black audiences. “<span id="ref1251275"></span>Blueberry Hill” (1956), his most popular recording, was one of several rock-and-roll <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="adaptations" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/adaptations" data-type="MW">adaptations</a> of standard songs. The piano-oriented Domino-Bartholomew style was modified somewhat in hits such as “I’m Walkin’” (1957) and “Walking to New Orleans” (1960). He appeared in the 1956 film <em><span id="ref1251277"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Girl-Cant-Help-It" class="md-crosslink ">The Girl Can’t Help It</a></em>. One of his last hits was a version of the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/the-Beatles" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Beatles</a>’ “<span id="ref1251276"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Lady-Madonna" class="md-crosslink ">Lady Madonna</a>” (1968). Domino was inducted into the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Rock-and-Roll-Hall-of-Fame-and-Museum" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Rock and Roll Hall of Fame</a> in 1986.</p><a class="link-module shadow-sm d-block qa-quiz-module" href="/quiz/pop-culture-quiz" data-link-module-iframe-link=""> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/65/129465-131-8F637272/USA-Annual-Academy-Awards-Closeup-entrance-statue-2009.jpg" alt="USA 2006 - 78th Annual Academy Awards. Closeup of giant Oscar statue at the entrance of the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles, California. 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Fats Domino | Biography, Songs, & Facts | Britannica