Allen Toussaint

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(copied article from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

Allen Toussaint (born January 14, 1938) is an American musician, songwriter and record producer and one of the most influential figures in New Orleans R&B. In the 1960s and 1970s, he wrote numerous hits for artists including Lee Dorsey, The Meters and Solomon Burke and produced material for Dr John, Labelle, and Art and Aaron Neville amongst others. An accomplished pianist, lyricist and arranger, Toussaint wrote many songs which continue to be covered by artists to this day, including "Working in the Coalmine", "Get Out My Life Woman" and "Everything I Do Gonna Be Funky".

Toussaint soon launched his own solo career, which peaked in the '70s with the albums From a Whisper to a Scream and Southern Nights. For much of his career he partnered with Marshall Sehorn. They co-owned and operated the Sea-Saint recording studio in the Gentilly neighborhood of New Orleans. They also partnered in a record label, that went under various names. Along with many of his contemporaries, interest in Allen Toussaint's compositions was rekindled when his work began to be heavily sampled by hip hop artists in the 1980s and 1990s. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998.

Despite rumours at the time, Toussaint did not take refuge at the Louisiana Superdome in the wake of the Hurricane Katrina disaster. Instead, Toussaint weathered out the storm in the Astor Crowne Plaza Hotel. After the hurricane Toussaint left New Orleans for New York City, where he is currently living while his house is rebuilt. His first television appearance after the hurricane was on the September 07, 2005 episode of The Late Show with David Letterman, sitting in with Paul Shaffer and his CBS Orchestra. Toussaint performs each month at Joe's Pub in New York City.

The River In Reverse, Toussaint's collaborative album with Elvis Costello, is scheduled for release on June 6, 2006.

Discography

Albums:

  • 1958 - The Wild Sound of New Orleans
  • 1971 - Toussaint
  • 1972 - Life, Love And Faith
  • 1975 - Southern Nights
  • 1978 - Motion
  • 1991 - The Allen Toussaint Collection
  • 1994 - The Wild Sound of New Orleans: The Complete 'Tousan' Sessions
  • 1995 - From a Whisper to a Scream
  • 1996 - Connected
  • 1997 - A New Orleans Christmas
  • 1999 - A Taste Of New Orleans
  • 2002 - Finger Poppin' & Stompin' Feet
  • 2005 - The Complete Warner Bros. Recordings

External links