Fats Domino did appear at Saturday night’s Domino Effect Benefit Concert at the New Orleans Arena, however, he did not perform. Instead the crowd was treated to five hours of quality music with sets from Taj Mahal, Ozomatli, Keb Mo, Junior Brown, blues legend BB King, and Rock ‘N Roll legends Chuck Berry and Little Richard. Instead of performing, Fats played host, meeting backstage with Little Richard and greeting BB King, as well as posing for photos with Drew Brees, for whose fondation the concert benefited. It is rare to have this collection of the giants of Rock ‘N Roll in one place. It is unfortunate that the crowd wasn’t larger, as the upper deck was completely empty. Although Johnny B. Goode was from “way down in Louisiana across from New Orleans,” unfortunately, Chuck Berry did not perform the song. Of the performers, Little Richard has the strongest New Orleans connection, which he acknowledged to the crowd saying that he was born “in Macon, Georgia, but I was raised in New Orleans.” He then referenced his time at the “Dew Drop Inn on LaSalle.” Little Richard recorded several of his early classic hits in New Orleans with New Orleans musicians, including legendary drummer Earl Palmer. It is great to see these legends still “alive and kickin'” as the recent Fats Domino release from Tipitinas Foundation says. Hopefully, next time, it will be in front of a larger audience with Fats at the piano!

Fats Domino and Drew Brees at the Domino Effect Benefit Concert - Saturday, May 30th