No matter what issues anyone may have had with him it is very sad to know that he died alone in a hotel room so far away from home.
Wednesday, November 11, 2015
Allen Toussaint - Southern Nights
No matter what issues anyone may have had with him it is very sad to know that he died alone in a hotel room so far away from home.
6 comments:
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Thanks, le Roi. I have to admit while reading his obituary, I found and still find thinking of him dying from a heart attack so far from New Orleans and his family disturbing. George Porter, Jr. wrote a fitting tribute to Toussaint on his Facebook page and briefly described the musician's peripatetic life but it doesn't make dying on the road less haunting. As with most great creative minds, Toussaint had his flaws but what a body of music he left and, to many of us outside of New Orleans, he was the epitome of class and hip coolness all in one, a great representative of a great city. I'll never forget the first time I,a student in college, heard the Pointer Sisters sing "I Know We Can Make It" and,of course, even Glen Campbell had a hit with one of his songs. I am still wrestling with what is more troubling the passing of so many of the musical greats who so greatly influenced my tastes in music throughout my life or the realization that it means that I am no longer middle-aged and much closer to them in age than I'd like to admit.
Last night I was trying to describe Toussaint's influence to my wife last night and frankly couldn't do so as well as I wanted or he deserved, so I'll play these re-posts for her and let his music speak for him. In Irish, one says "ní beidh orainn a fheiceáil a chuid mhaith arís" or "ní bheidh a leithéid ann arís", which both may be translated into English as "We'll not see his like again." Slán, an tUasal Toussaint, agus go raibh mile maith agat for all you gave us as a person, writer, and performer.
Thanks Kc... I really have no words anymore. All of the greats & masters are leaving us - we must simply buckle up for the ride. Best thing we can do is keep their music and legacies alive, especially with the next generation.
Thanks for the post. One of the amazing things to me was his influence through music that didn't have his name attached to it - so many of the New Orleans classics. Truly a giant of american music and he'll be greatly missed. Thanks again for all that you and your blog does to keep this music alive and available to all.
Many thanks KC!
Many thanks KC!
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