It's impossible to overstate the influence and contributions--as writer, producer, singer, fixer--Allen Toussaint, who turns 75 today, in the past fifty or more years in New Orleans and beyond. One of my favorite Jazzfest moments was simply coming upon Allen standing alone on a pathway eating a po' boy. Elegantly. (Last time I saw him was on stage with Elvis Costello.) Since one of his mentors, Professor Longhair, is one of my heroes, here's Allen's tribute to Fess, a play on "Tipitina." Then Allen with one of his dozens of classics (covered memorably by Warren Zevon).
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