IN HONOR OF FATS DOMINO

Irvin Mayfield, Fats Domino, Davell Crawford

Rock ’n’ roll pioneer Fats Domino, 85, was honored Wednesday at his home by New Orleans Jazz Orchestra founder Irvin Mayfield and keyboardist Davell Crawford.
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Domino’s ascendancy began in 1949 with his million-selling recording of “The Fat Man.” By the early 1960s, he had racked up 35 Top 40 records including the No. 1 hits “Ain’t That a Shame,” “Blueberry Hill” and “Blue Monday.”

My relationship with Fats goes back a long time, to the early 1950s, when we jitterbugged or slow danced to his music.  Fats' recordings remain in my music collection today, and I listen fairly often.  Congratulations, Fats.  The gold records, No. 1 hits, and honors are well-earned and well-deserved.

Here's Fats with "Blue Monday".

A LITTLE DITTY FROM EARTHA KITT[Y]

Lapin wanted to know if I could have played the song "Lovin' Spree" on the family Victrola back in my youth, and the answer is yes. In the 30s, 40s, and 50s, there were many such songs with double entendre lyrics that were acceptable within the family circle, at least within my family circle in what has been known as the "Wicked City" (New Orleans).

However, the early rock and roll records by African-American musicians were an entirely different matter. I would never have thought of buying the songs to play them in my home. The rock and roll songs with lyrics that included barely disguised sexual references, with the "double" mostly left out of double entendre, were fine for dancing in lounges, but not for listening at home. New Orleans may have been unique in that in the 1950s, we could go to the lounges at age 15 or 16 with no questions asked about our age. An equivalent in rural areas for dancing to the early rock and roll may have been roadside inns and juke joints.

Of course, good Roman Catholic convent school girl that I was, the lyrics were not what attracted me. I liked the rock and roll beat.

"LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL" - SHIRLEY AND LEE

My antidote for depression over the budget deal. Yeah! Let the good times roll!

RUTH BROWN - DADDY DADDY

"Daddy Daddy" was the kind of song we danced to when I was in high school. Yes, I know. "Daddy Daddy" is naughty naughty, and I could not own this type of song at the time. Where would I play the record? On the family Victrola? I don't think so. Almost all the rock and roll songs of the period had naughty lyrics.