On Monday, Allen Toussaint, fixture of New Orleans R&B, passed away while on tour in Spain. Almost exactly a year ago, I spoke with him on the phone to promote his upcoming show at Laxson Auditorium in Chico. Above is the audio from our conversation.
Toussaint was born in New Orleans, where he discovered a passion for music at a young age when his parents purchased their first piano. As a teenager, his musical career began as a studio pianist, spending most of his time in various recording studios. Toussaint would later discover a talent for composing and arranging songs for others. Hits he’s best known for include “Southern Nights” performed by Glen Campbell and “Fortune Teller” by The Rolling Stones. Toussaint has been inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as well as the Blues Hall of Fame, and the list of famous musicians he’s collaborated with is incredible — including Paul McCartney, Dr. John, Bonnie Raitt, Elvis Costello, Etta James, and many more. All of these iconic performers were at some point guided by Toussaint’s ability to understand and craft popular music.