NEW ORLEANS — Fats Domino rarely emerges from his Louisiana home — and many wondered if he’d show up for The Domino Effect, his namesake concert that raises funds to help rebuild schools and playgrounds damaged by hurricane Katrina.
Sure enough, the 81-year-old New Orleans native smiled and waved from his private suite to more than 3,000 cheering people who attended Saturday’s concert to see two of his old friends perform — Little Richard and B.B. King.
Domino is an icon in New Orleans, known nearly as much for his reclusiveness as for hits like Blueberry Hill and Ain’t That a Shame.
Little Richard, at the piano in a sparkly white suite, delivered an energetic set that included Lucille, Tutti Frutti and other hits.
Between songs, he reminisced about New Orleans and Domino. Richard’s breakout hit Tutti Frutti was recorded at Cosimo Matassa’s studio in New Orleans in 1955.
“I was right here,” Richard said, playing the piano as he talked. “I was right here.”
Richard said he remembered being on the road with Domino, who always longed to be back home. Then Richard broke into song: “Every night about this time, I go to sleep to keep from cryin’.”
Domino and Richard met backstage, where the men hugged, made small talk and posed for pictures. Richard’s handlers handed out free inspirational pamphlets to fans during the concert, and backstage, he asked Domino and others to pray with him.
“Bless this life,” Richard prayed, his head bowed, “and bless this music.”
Domino also met with King after his blues set, which included the hit, The Thrill is Gone.
Saturday’s concert ran more than four hours and included performances by Chuck Berry, Wyclef Jean, Keb’ Mo’ and Junior Brown. Comedian-actor Tracy Morgan, best known for his work on the TV shows Saturday Night Live and 30 Rock, also performed.
Proceeds from the event are earmarked for Operation Kids, a program run through Saints quarterback Drew Brees’ foundation to improve the city’s parks and schools.
Domino has been living in Harvey since Katrina struck in 2005, flooding his home in the Lower 9th Ward neighbourhood. Still, Domino enjoys visiting his publishing house, an extension of his old home.
The studio is a classic shotgun double built in the 1930s that was rebuilt after Katrina. It is one of a few refurbished structures in the neighbourhood, which still has blocks of abandoned homes and overgrown lots.