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. Biography by Steve Huey, Allmusic.com. Retrieved 11 November 2015    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. Allen Toussaint, National Medal of Arts, 2013 Retrieved November 14, 2015

 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.

 References 

 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.

Category:1938 births
Category:2015 deaths
Category:African-American musicians
Category:American blues musicians
Category:American composers
Category:American jazz musicians
Category:American pianists
Category:American R&B musicians
Category:American record producers
Category:American songwriters
Category:American soul musicians
Category:Deaths from myocardial infarction
Category:Musicians from New Orleans