Allen Toussaint, legendary New Orleans R&B singer- songwriter and record producer, died on Monday
Legendary songwriter-composer, record producer and revered New Orleans R&B performer Allen Toussaint has died aged 77 on Monday, November 9th after suffering a heart attack in Spain while on tour with his performance quartet in Europe.
He had just played his last show at the Teatro Lara on Calle Corredera Baja de San Pablo in Madrid on Monday evening. Toussaint was next scheduled to perform in Antwerp on Thursday 12 November and in London on Sunday 15 November, before returning to the US at the end of the month. Also, last week non-profit organisation New Orleans Artists against Hunger and Homelessness announced Toussaint and musician Paul Simon as acts confirmed to play an annual benefit concert on 8 December. Toussaint co-founded the organisation in 1985 alongside the Neville Brothers' lead vocalist Aaron Neville, in a bid to help homeless and impoverished citizens of New Orleans.
Beyond his philanthropic work, Toussaint was a legendary and extremely influential figure of New Orleans R&B. Born in New Orleans on January 14th, 1938, he started his musical career as an apprentice to composer, bandleader and producer Dave Bartholomew. He then came into his own as a session musician, before becoming a songwriter and producer affiliated with record labels Minit and Instant.
Toussaint wrote hit R&B songs for the likes of Aaron Neville, Ernie K-Doe, The Showmen and Irma Thomas and collaborated with Joe Cocker and Paul McCartney, among many others.
His songs often found new life when performed or covered by other artists. He was responsible for Lee Dorsey’s "Working in the Coal Mine", "Fortune Teller" covered by the Rolling Stones and Benny Spellman, Ernie K-Doe’s "Mother-in-Law", "Southern Nights" covered by Glen Campbell, and "Ruler of My Heart" famously recorded by Irma Thomas (also recorded by Otis Redding under the title "Pain in My Heart").
Toussaint was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998 and made a Grammy awards trustee in 2009.