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Black History Month

History-makers of Southeast Louisiana

Allen Toussaint

Allen Toussaint

Photo from Wikimedia Commons

Allen Toussaint (1938–2015)

Allen Toussaint grew up in the Gert Town neighborhood of New Orleans. He was a Grammy-winning composer, songwriter, producer, arrangers, and piano player. His brilliant productions helped define New Orleans R&B, with funky yet sophisticated arrangements and lyrics. Allen Toussaint's music career has spanned sixty years. Artists from around the world have recorded his songs, including Elvis Costello, Paul McCartney, Patti LaBelle, Jerry Garcia, The Who, The Rolling Stones, Bonnie Raitt, Phish, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, Little Feat, Robert Palmer, Aaron Neville, Warren Zevon, Glen Campbell, and Widespread Panic.

 

He was one of the founders of New Orleans Artists Against Hunger and Homelessness.

 

Honors and awards:

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, inducted 1998

American Music Association, 2006 Lifetime Achievement Award for Producer/Engineer

Louisiana Music Hall of Fame, inducted 2009

Grammy Trustees Award, 2009

The Blues Hall of Fame, inducted 2011

National Medal of the Arts, in 2013

 

 

 

 

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The books listed below are available for you at Sims Memorial Library.