​Fats Domino Dead at 89

Legendary musician Fats Domino has passed away at the age of 89. As TMZ reports, he died in his hometown of New Orleans, surrounded by friends and family.
 
Born Antoine Domino Jr., his musical career started in 1947 when Billy Diamond enlisted him to play piano with the Solid Senders. The bandleader christened him with the nickname "Fats" after renowned pianists Fats Weller and Fats Pichon.
 
Domino went on to gain success for his early rock'n'roll recordings like "The Fat Man" and "Ain't That a Shame," before releasing his debut album Carry On Rockin in 1955. He would go the second best-selling rocker of the 1950s — only behind Elvis Presley.
 
More recently, Domino gained recognition for his contributions to the relief effort in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. In 2012, he appeared as himself in the third season of Treme.
 
Throughout his career, he received honours including induction into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame, Delta Music Museum Hall of Fame and the Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame.
 
Below, see some of the tributes pouring in for the late musician on social media.
 

 

Wow. I truly had NO idea #FatsDomino had been with us this entire time til now! I would have probably made an effort to see him perform. Man. 89 years on earth. God bless his life. rip to the pioneer Fats Domino!

A post shared by Questlove Gomez (@questlove) on Oct 25, 2017 at 7:49am PDT

RIP fats domino...  you helped pave the way for new orleans piano players...  see you on top of that blueberry hill in the sky ❤️🙏🏼❤️

— Harry Connick Jr (@HarryConnickJR) October 25, 2017

Words fail me in this moment of deep heartache and sadness. We have lost a legend. One of my heroes. New Orleans' Fats Domino is dead. pic.twitter.com/HZNbQRI889

— Wendell Pierce (@WendellPierce) October 25, 2017

God Bless Fats Domino. #FatsDomino #RockandRoll

— Roy Orbison Jr (@Royorbisonjr) October 25, 2017

 

In Memoriam...Lost a HUGE talent in Fats Domino...Our Thoughts & Prayers Are With His Family, Friends & Fans...LOVED His Work...XX pic.twitter.com/WbvagMs8F9

— David Coverdale (@davidcoverdale) October 25, 2017

We have lost a TRUE American treasure.

God bless you Fats!! RIP.https://t.co/Fgu25tRVf3

— Kid Rock (@KidRock) October 25, 2017

I found My Thrill on " Blueberry Hill"!  RIP Fats Domino

— Samuel L. Jackson (@SamuelLJackson) October 25, 2017

RIP Fats Domino, one pf the last of the Founding Fathers. "Come on pretty baby, we're gonna rock, gonna roll, until the early light."

— Stephen King (@StephenKing) October 25, 2017

So long Fats. One of the greats. https://t.co/xvQyBDm59R

— Billy Bragg (@billybragg) October 25, 2017