In his book BLUE MONDAY, Rick Coleman makes a strong case that Fats did more to integrate the U.S. than all the grandstanding civil rights activists combined. Though Fats never set out to unify America - he just liked to pound the keys - his Creole beats appealed to all races. As a result, many of his shows in the South were the very first time black & white mingled. Riots often erupted, prompting several major Southern cities to ban his appearances altogether. In one case, a melee resulted in his bassist being pushed out a rear window and down a ravine. (He was never able to play again.) In another, Fats played a live t.v.gig sporting a fresh hand wound caused by a cop's errant tear gas cannister.
As Lou Reed sang in SWEET JANE, "Jack, those were different time."
Fats Domino, 1928-2017
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