Allen Toussaint

**Allen Toussaint** (; January 14, 1938 – November 10, 2015) was an American musician, songwriter-composer, record producer, and influential figure in New Orleans R&B.

Many of Toussaint's songs became familiar through cover versions by other musicians, including "Working in the Coal Mine", "Ride Your Pony", "Fortune Teller", "Play Something Sweet", "Southern Nights", "Everything I Do Gonna Be Funky", "I'll Take a Melody", "Get Out of My Life, Woman" and "Mother-in-Law".

## Early life

Toussaint was born in Gert Town, New Orleans. He was raised in Gert Town and in New Orleans. His mother was Naomi Neville.

## Career

In 1960, Toussaint was hired as a record producer by a label in New Orleans.  He was also looking for new talent to sign to the label, named Minit Records. Toussaint played piano, wrote, and produced many hit records in the early and mid 1960s for New Orleans R&B artists.    Some examples are:
- Jessie Hill's "Ooh Poo Pah Doo"
- Ernie K-Doe's "Mother-in-Law", written by Toussaint
- Chris Kenner's "I Like It Like That"
- "Ruler of My Heart", recorded by Irma Thomas. This song was later recorded  again by Otis Redding (with the title "Pain in My Heart"), and by The Rolling Stones on their second album.
- In 1964, "A Certain Girl" (originally by Ernie K-Doe) was the B-side of the first single by The Yardbirds; the song was released again in 1980 by Warren Zevon.

## Honors

In 1998, Toussaint was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame  and in 2009 into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame.  On May 9, 2011, he was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame.

In 2013 he was awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Barack Obama.

## Death

Toussaint died while touring in Madrid, Spain after suffering a heart attack at his hotel, aged 77.

Toussaint’s two marriages ended in divorce. He is survived by his two children, son Clarence (better known as Reginald) and daughter Alison, and by several grandchildren. His children had managed his career in recent years.

## Other websites

- Audio interview with Allen Toussaint on the Sodajerker On Songwriting podcast
- Allen Toussaint profile, NPR.org; accessed October 5, 2014.
- Allen Toussaint profile, discogs.com; accessed October 5, 2014.
- [ Allen Toussaint profile], allmusic.com; accessed October 5, 2014.
- Allen Toussaint NYNO Records profile , nynorecords.com; accessed October 5, 2014.
- List of chart records written by Toussaint, MusicVF.com, accessed November 11, 2015
- Allen Toussaint profile , preshallben.tumblr.com, October 5, 2014.

## Infobox (musical artist)

- **name**: Allen Toussaint
- **image**: AllenToussaintFreretStFestival2009DSBNOLA (cropped).jpg
- **caption**: Toussaint in 2009
- **background**: solo_singer
- **birth place**: Gert Town, New Orleans, Gert Town, Louisiana, U.S.
- **death place**: Madrid, Spain
- **origin**: New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
- **instrument**: Vocals, piano
- **genre**: Rhythm and blues, R&B, soul music, soul, southern soul, funk, blues, jazz
- **occupation**: Musician, composer, arranger, record producer
- **years active**: 1958–2015
- **label**: RCA Victor, Scepter Records, Scepter, Minit Records, Minit, Instant Records, Instant, Reprise Records, Reprise, Warner Bros. Records, Warner Bros., Nonesuch Records, Nonesuch, Elektra Records, Elektra, Rounder Records, Rounder
- **associated acts**: Merry Clayton
Venetta Fields
Dr. John
The Meters
Irma Thomas
Joan Harmon
Deborah Paul
Sharon Neborn
John Mayall
Etta James
Bonnie Raitt
Rosemary Butler
Elvis Costello
Paul McCartney
The Band
Lee Dorsey
LaBelle