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For half a century, Fats Domino has been making music in New Orleans.
Fats Domino was rescued from his house in the Lower Ninth Ward last September. This photo was taken in January.
Fats Domino was rescued from his house in the Lower Ninth Ward last September. This photo was taken in January.
March 13, 2006 - Fats Domino nearly perished in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The legendary lifelong resident of the Lower Ninth Ward in New Orleans stayed in his home and had to be lifted out by a Coast Guard helicopter.
Domino was touched by the outpouring of concern for him. It was a horrifying experience for him and other victims of the storm. But, the singer says, "I'm still alive and kickin' and I'm sorry for them that didn't make it, but we're gonna make it... we're making it."
Alive and Kickin' is the name of Domino's new CD. He's donating the proceeds from sales of the album to the Tipitina's Foundation, which is dedicated to preserving and restoring the musical culture of New Orleans.
In the title track, which was written before Katrina but sounds appropriate now, Domino sings:
All over the country, people wanna know
What ever happened to Fats Domino?
And I'm alive and kickin'
I'm alive and kickin'
I'm alive and kickin'
And I'm where I wanna be.
The Lower Ninth was decimated by the flooding, but Domino says he's anxious to return to his old neighborhood. "It's going to be alright, [it will] take a little time. I'm gonna wait it out. I don't think I'll ever leave the Ninth Ward."
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