Fats & Dave, together again

Yeah, I know, two posts in one day. Try not to faint.

I couldn’t help it, though. When I saw this report from WWL-TV in New Orleans I had to share it. New Orleans R&B legends Antoine “Fats” Domino and Dave Bartholomew, who together (and along with producer Cosimo Matassa) were responsible for so much great New Orleans music (and the building blocks of rock ‘n roll), hadn’t seen each other or spoken for years. Then WWL reporter Eric Paulsen brought Mr. Dave over to Fats’ house in the Lower Ninth Ward.

“And when these two living legends got together, it was magic… Fats is 82. Dave turns 90 next month. But they felt like teenagers when they saw each other.”



What I’d give to be able to see these two perform together. I last saw Dave years ago at Tipitina’s, heading up a big band and tearing it up for a guy who was in his 70s at the time. It’s been longer for Fats, a Jazzfest performance in 1997. He’s cripplingly shy these days and almost never performs, and was supposed to play Fest again in 2006, but that didn’t happen (sigh).

The Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame is honoring Fats and Dave, and the special event will feature Lloyd Price, Irma Thomas, Dr. John, The ReBirth Brass Band, Theresa Andersson, The Dixie Cups, Toots & the Maytals, James Andrews, Jon Cleary & more. As our friend Diana said, “Just your average night in New Orleans …” I surely hope they release a DVD of this event.

 

One Response to “Fats & Dave, together again”

  1. Malinda said:

    Nov 19, 10 at 3:03 am

    It was a great show. and the conference during the day was interesting and well put together. Listening to these guys talk about what it was like back in th day. What a heavenly meeting of Fats, Cosimo and Dave all those years back. Julian Bond spoke at the concert and talked about the impact of music on integration and how it accomplished what laws and regulations couldn’t . Also, Lloyd Price was just delightful telling his story. Can’t say enough as a part time New Orleans resident and most time Pittsburgh resident, how great it was to have all those wonderful performers up on our end of the globe!