[Dixielandjazz] Missing Musicians

[Kaye Wade]

Anyone know anything about any of these that gives more info?


'Fats' Domino Missing in New Orleans

Thursday, September 01, 2005

By Roger Friedman

Before NBC, MTV or anyone else puts on a telethon to help victims of
Hurricane Katrina, they might want to explore some ancillary issues. To 
wit:
New Orleans is a city famous for its famous musicians, but many of them 
are
missing. Missing with a capital M.

To begin with, one of the city's most important legends, Antoine "Fats"
Domino, has not been heard from since Monday afternoon. Domino's 
rollicking
boogie-woogie piano and deep soul voice are not only part of the Rock 
'n'
Roll Hall of Fame but responsible for dozens of hits like "Blue Monday,"
"Ain't That a Shame," "Blueberry Hill" and "I'm Walking (Yes, Indeed, 
I'm
Talking)."

Domino, 76, lives with his wife Rosemary and daughter in a three-story
pink-roofed house in New Orleans' 9th ward, which is now under water.

On Monday afternoon, Domino told his manager, Al Embry of Nashville, 
that he
would "ride out the storm" at home. Embry is now frantic.

Calls have been made to Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco's office and to
various police officials, and though there's lots of sympathetic 
response,
the whereabouts of Domino and his family remain a mystery.

In the meantime, another important Louisiana musician who probably 
hasn't
been asked to be in any telethons is the also legendary Allen Toussaint.

Another Rock Hall member, Toussaint wrote Patti LaBelle's hit "Lady
Marmalade" and Dr. John's "Right Place, Wrong Time." His arrangements 
and
orchestrations for hundreds of hit records, including his own 
instrumentals
"Whipped Cream" and "Java" are American staples. (He also arranged Paul
Simon's hit, "Kodachrome.")

Last night, Toussaint was one of the 25,000 people holed up at the New
Orleans Superdome hoping to get on a bus for Houston's Astrodome. I know
this because he got a message out to his daughter, who relayed to it 
through
friends.

Also not heard from by friends through last night: New Orleans's "Queen 
of
Soul" Irma Thomas, who was the original singer of what became the 
Rolling
Stones' hit, "Time is On My Side."

Let's hope and pray it is, because while the Stones roll through the 
U.S. on
their $450-a-ticket tour, Thomas is missing in action. Her club, The 
Lion's
Den, is under water, as are all the famous music hot spots of the city.

Similarly, friends are looking for Antoinette K-Doe, widow of New 
Orleans
wild performer Ernie K-Doe. The Does have a famous nightspot of their 
own on
N. Claiborne Avenue, called the Mother-in-Law Lounge, in honor of 
Ernie's
immortal hit, "The Mother-in-Law Song."

Ernie K-Doe, who received a 1998 Pioneer Award from the Rhythm and Blues
Foundation, died in 2001 at age 65.

Dry and safe, but in not much better shape, is the famous Neville 
family of
New Orleans. Aaron Neville and many members of the family evacuated on
Monday to Memphis, where they are now staying in a hotel. But most of 
the
Nevilles' homes are destroyed, reports their niece and my colleague at 
"A
Current Affair," Arthel Neville. She went down to her hometown 
yesterday and
called me from a boat that was trying to get near town.

"This isn't like having two feet of water in your basement," she said,
holding back tears. "Everything is destroyed. I am just so lucky to have
been born here and to have had the experience of New Orleans."

She confirmed that there had been rumors of dead bodies floating around 
her
Uncle Aaron's house yesterday. So far, the Nevilles are unannounced to
participate in Friday's TV telethon.

And still there are plenty of other famous musicians associated with New
Orleans who would probably like to be on TV if they're high and dry.

The Marsalis family comes from the city, and they've played at most of 
the
well known clubs like Tipitina's, The Maple Leaf, Preservation Hall and
Muddy Waters.

New Orleans is also one of the few cities with a House of Blues. And 
Jimmy
Buffet's Margaritaville Café chain has a local franchise that is still 
an
attraction.

New Orleans' trademark sounds are Dixieland, Jazz, Cajun and Zydeco. So 
far none of the
listed benefits have named an act that plays that kind of music.




Kaye Wade
Stuntwoman-Actress, Reflexologist
Vocalist & Bandleader -Kaye Wade's Riverboat Ramblers
& The Tinsel Town Ten Minus 3
PO Box 1068 Studio City  CA. 91614-1068
http://www.KayeWade.com