Allen Toussaint

Allen Toussaint ( born January 14, 1938 New Orleans ) is an American musician and one of the most influential record producers of the sixties in New Orleans. As a piano player arranged with its own style, he produced and wrote big hits for American artists.

Career

At seven, he was playing, influenced by Professor Longhair, piano and founded in 1952 the band " Flamingos ", came to the Snooks Eaglin later. Dave Bartholomew took it as a piano accompaniment especially for the Fats Domino recordings of I Want You To Know (B-side of The Big Beat, December 1957 ) and Young School Girl ( August 1958 ). During this time he arranged in January 1958 and Lee Allen's biggest hit Walkin 'With Mr. Lee.

His first single was produced as part of a talent competition on 29 January 1958 as Al Tousan under the title Whirlaway / Happy Times (RCA # 47-7192 ) was added to Cosimo Matassas famous recording studios in New Orleans. Impressed by his piano work encouraged him Matassa for adding new instrumental tracks that were then summarized in February 1958 as an instrumental album The Wild Sounds of New Orleans. Then also a great Instrumentalhit for Al Hirt was his composition Java, and later (# 4 pop charts in January 1963). The whole album with support from the house band Matassas ( Alvin "Red" Tyler - baritone sax, Frank Fields - bass, Justin Adams and Roy Mantrell - Guitar, Charles " Hungry" Williams - drums) reflects the compelling, authentic former sound from New Orleans. Despite moderate sales Toussaint gained national prominence through the album.

Artistic Director of a record label

From 1960, he went to the newly founded record label Minit Records, for which he produced, arranged, composed and on the recordings, he is often heard as accompanying pianist. Along with Allen Orange he brought under the label of Allen & Allen out some plates themselves. For Minit Records his real creative breakthrough began when he participated in the development of the " New Orleans " sound to a lighter, more melodic, sometimes melancholy style that worked. He produced particularly in May 1960 Ooh Poo Pah Doo for Jessie Hill, wrote the million-seller Mother- In-Law Ernie K- Doe ( April 1961 ) or Benny Spellman Fortune Teller / Lipstick Traces (On A Cigarette ) (June 1962) under his second pseudonym Naomi Neville. For the sister label Instant Records he often gecoverten dance song Land of 1000 Dances produced Lee Dorsey's Ya Ya ( August 1961 ) or Chris Kenner (July 1963). Toussaint drafted into the army left at Minit Records a creative void that could not be closed by its replacement Eddie Bo. The record label lost its market position almost completely and was sold to Imperial Records.

New beginning

When he was drafted in January 1963 on the army, suffered here under his creativity enormous. During several meetings with his backing band Stokes, which also includes drummer Billy Fayard belonged, was born in off-duty time under the pseudonym Naomi Neville Whipped Cream, was covered by Herb Alpert in February 1965 and taken to an average hit. After his discharge from the army in 1965, he worked with Marshall Sehorn, with whom he founded a production company and record label Sansu Enterprises. Here was - next to Betty Harris, Earl King, Chris Kenner, and Lou Johnson - Lee Dorsey also taken under contract. Toussaint compositions for Dorsey Ride Your Pony, such as that often gecoverte Get Out of My Life Woman or the immortal Working in A Coal Mine all came from the pen of Toussaint. From 1966 dedicated Sansu as house band the Meters, who received in 1969 even as the state musicians and produced by Toussaint. In 1971 Toussaint after a long time his first solo album, which was titled simply with Toussaint. With Sehorn in 1972 which later became famous Sea- Saint recording studio was in New Orleans in New Orleans.

Allen & Allen - Heavenly Baby

Lee Dorsey - Yes We Can

LaBelle - Lady Marmalade

Dr. John - Right Place Wrong Time

Toussaint produced the title Right Place Wrong Time for Dr. John ( album In The Right Place, March 1973 ) and the number one radio hit for LaBelle Lady Marmalade ( December 1974). The Pointer Sisters took over in August 1973 Yes We Can Can as their first single (Original by Lee Dorsey from August 1970), from Toussaint's solo album Southern Nights (May 1975) coupled Glen Campbell the title song and made it in February 1977 a million times unreacted Country hit, Robert Palmer titled be accompanied by the meter album Sneakin ' Sally Through the Alley in June 1975 following the 1970 composed by Toussaint song ( original by Lee Dorsey album again Yes We Can, 1970).

Statistics

For Allen Toussaint total of 818 titles are registered as a composer in BMI, of which seven were given a BMI award. Toussaint was appointed to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1998. In 2009, his song Sweet Touch of Love in the " AXE Dark Temptation " was heard advertising.

Albums

  • The Wild Sound of New Orleans ( 1958)
  • From a Whisper to a Scream (1970 )
  • Toussaint (1971 )
  • Life, Love And Faith (1972 )
  • Southern Nights (1975 )
  • Motion ( 1978)
  • The Allen Toussaint Collection ( 1991)
  • The Wild Sound of New Orleans: The Complete ' Tousan ' Sessions (1994 )
  • Connected ( 1996)
  • A New Orleans Christmas (1997)
  • A Taste Of New Orleans ( 1999)
  • Finger Poppin '& Stompin' Feet (2002)
  • The Complete Warner Bros. Recordings (2005)
  • I Believe To My Soul (2005)
  • River in Reverse ( with Elvis Costello ) (2006 )
  • The Bright Mississippi ( 2009)
  • Songbook (2013 )
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