Biography
Allen Toussaint, born January 14, 1938, in New Orleans' Gert Town neighborhood, grew up in a musical family and began playing piano without formal training, composing songs by age 9. His early career in the 1950s involved gigging with local acts like Shirley & Lee's band, substituting for Fats Domino and Huey 'Piano' Smith, and recording his debut album The Wild Side of New Orleans, featuring 'Java,' which later became a hit for others. By 1957, he produced his first success with Lee Allen's 'Walking with Mr. Lee,' transitioning to studio work at venues like the Dew Drop Inn and with Dave Bartholomew.[1][2][3][4][6][7]
Toussaint's career peaked in the 1960s as a founding partner, songwriter, producer, and arranger for Minit Records, crafting R&B hits for Ernie K-Doe ('Mother-in-Law'), Irma Thomas ('It's Raining'), Benny Spellman ('Fortune Teller'), and Aaron Neville. He co-founded Sea-Saint Studios in 1973 with Marshall Sehorn, producing smashes like Dr. John's 'Right Place Wrong Time,' LaBelle's 'Lady Marmalade,' and his own albums From a Whisper to a Scream and Southern Nights, whose title track became a Glen Campbell hit. His style blended lush New Orleans R&B, funk, and soul with piano-driven arrangements that influenced British Invasion bands like the Rolling Stones and Yardbirds.[1][2][3][4]
In later decades, Toussaint explored jazz on The Bright Mississippi (2009), co-founded NYNO Records (1996), and earned a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction (1998). A civic leader, he co-founded New Orleans Artists Against Hunger and Homelessness. He passed away on November 9, 2015, after a concert in Madrid, leaving a legacy as a New Orleans R&B architect through collaborations with The Band, Paul McCartney, Elvis Costello, and Eric Clapton.[1][2][4][5][7]
Fun Facts
- Allen Toussaint's 'Jazzity Project' was a late-career venture showcasing his versatility in jazz, as highlighted in a review of the album Going Places on CRT Records.
- He added a poignant monologue about childhood visits to Creole relatives in Terrebonne Parish during live performances of 'Southern Nights' on his 2013 Grammy-nominated album Songbook.
- Morrissey abandoned a recording session with Toussaint at Sea-Saint after one day in the late 1970s, reportedly after overhearing Toussaint's muttered concern.
- Toussaint co-founded NYNO Records in 1996 to promote New Orleans talent, producing his own album Connected, his first full-length since the 1970s.
Musical Connections
Mentors/Influences
- Fats Domino - early sub-in for studio recordings and influence on piano style ("I Want You to Know" (1957)) [1950s]
- Dave Bartholomew - booked him for studio subs and early band work (Fats Domino sessions) [1950s]
- Huey "Piano" Smith - replaced him in Shirley & Lee's road band, shaping preference for studio over gigging (Shirley & Lee promotions) [1957]
Key Collaborators
- Ernie K-Doe - wrote, arranged, produced hits as Minit house producer ("Mother-in-Law", "A Certain Girl") [1959-1960s]
- Irma Thomas - wrote, arranged, produced R&B classics ("It's Raining") [1960s]
- Dr. John - produced national hits and album ("Right Place Wrong Time", Desitively Bonaroo) [1973-1974]
- LaBelle - produced hit single and worked in Sea-Saint ("Lady Marmalade") [1975]
- The Band - horn arrangements for albums (Cahoots, Rock of Ages) [1970s]
- Aaron Neville - produced hits and co-founded charity ("Wrong Number", "Let's Live"; New Orleans Artists Against Hunger) [1960s-1985]
- Elvis Costello - collaboration projects (various sessions) [late career]
- Eric Clapton - collaboration projects (various sessions) [late career]
Artists Influenced
- Glen Campbell - covered his song to national success ("Southern Nights" (1977)) [1970s]
- Rolling Stones - covered Minit hits influencing British Invasion ("Fortune Teller") [1960s]
- Yardbirds - covered Minit hits ("A Certain Girl") [1960s]
- Pointer Sisters - kick-started career with his song ("Yes We Can Can") [1970s]
Connection Network
Discography
Albums
| Title | Release Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Going Places | 2005-01-01 | Album |
Top Tracks
- All These Things (Going Places)
- Traffic (Going Places)
- Ruler Of My Heart (Going Places)
- Close Up (Going Places)
- Caleraville (Going Places)
- Is There Any Love Left For Us? (Going Places)
- Out Front-a-town (Going Places)
- Do You Want Some Of This? (Going Places)
- A minor (filler) (Going Places)
- Meter Head (Going Places)
External Links
References
Heard on WWOZ
Allen Toussaint`s Jazzity Projec has been played 74 times on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station. Showing the 10 most recent plays.
| Date | Time | Title | Show | Spotify |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 8, 2026 | 20:53 | when the party's over | R&Bw/ Your Cousin Dimitri | |
| Jan 5, 2026 | 15:58 | We The People | Blues Eclecticw/ Andrew Grafe | |
| Dec 31, 2025 | 11:17 | Everything I Do Gonna Be Funkyfrom What is Success The Scepter and | New Orleans Music Showw/ Missy Bowen | |
| Dec 30, 2025 | 11:13 | Yes We Canfrom NOJHF Jazz Fest (D2) | New Orleans Music Showw/ Cole Williams | |
| Dec 29, 2025 | 15:58 | We The People | Blues Eclecticw/ Andrew Grafe | |
| Dec 26, 2025 | 11:30 | just a kiss away | New Orleans Music Showw/ Black Mold or Bill DeTurk | |
| Dec 25, 2025 | 20:43 | Last Train.from The Complete Warner Bros. Recordings | R&Bw/ Your Cousin Dimitri | |
| Dec 25, 2025 | 12:12 | The Day It Snows on Christmas Day | New Orleans Music Showw/ Michael Dominici | |
| Dec 25, 2025 | 09:41 | The Day It Snows On Christmas | Traditional Jazzw/ Sally Young | |
| Dec 22, 2025 | 15:58 | We The People | Blues Eclecticw/ Andrew Grafe |