RIP Allen Toussaint

[shawnbm]

I just read that the swinging iconic music man from the Big Easy passed away after giving his final concert in Madrid last night. He was a much sought after musician who played with most of the greats from the Sixties and Seventies. He played with Paul McCartney and Paul Simon, with Dr. John, and famously led the horn section during The Band's final performance that was captured on film by Martin Scorsese in The Last Waltz. He was the real article and wrote great songs for The Band, Dr. John, Glen Campbell (Southern Nights--a no. 1 hit from 1975) and a host of others. Resquiescat in pacem, Allen.

 

[shawnbm]

The great music man from the Big Easy died last night in Madrid after one final concert.  He was a much sought after musician in the Sixties and Seventies, and played with many of the greats like Paul McCartney, Paul Simon and wrote "Southern Nights", which became a huge number one hit for Glen Campbell.  He also led the horn section for The Band during their final concert in 1976, which was filmed by Martin Scorsese in The Last Waltz (he also toured with them for earlier live recordings).  Resquiescat in pacem, Allen.

 

[Kieran]

Sad to hear that. Not a man who I'm massively famileir with through the work you mentioned, but I know he worked with Elvis Costello not long ago, which shows that he was appreciated across the board...

 

[shawnbm]

You are correct, sir! Declan and Allen jammed in the last couple of years on a record released by the bespectacled one.

 

[britbox]

@shawnbm I'd never actually heard of him before he died, but that's largely because I'm a philistine when it comes to music. But I've read a few obituaries and he was clearly a pretty big face from the Big Easy and worked with legends in the industry. I had no idea he wrote Southern Nights for instance.  RIP Mr Toussaint.

 

[shawnbm]

That was one of my favorites by Mr. Campbell--I am a sucker for a banjo.