Allen Toussaint Biography

Allen Toussaint was an American musician, songwriter, arranger, and record producer. From the 1950s to the end of the century, he was an influential figure in New Orleans rhythm and blues, described as one of popular music’s great backroom figures.

Allen Toussaint Age

Allen was born in January 1938 and celebrates his birthday on the 14th. However, he died on 10 November 2015 and therefore he died when he was 77 years old.

Allen Photo

Allen Toussaint Albums

♦Southern
♦The Bright Mississippi
♦American Tunes
♦The River in Reverse
♦Life, Love, and Faith
♦Songbook
♦The Wild Sound of New Orleans
♦Sweet Touch Of Love

♦Motion
♦Toussaint
♦Mr. Mardi Gras – I Love a Carnival Ball
♦Artist, Producer, Songwriter
♦Hummingbird, Go!
♦The Wild New Orleans Piano and Productions of Allen Toussaint
♦Alligator Alley
♦The Bottom Line, New York, February 6th, 1987 (Doxy Collection, Remastered, Live on Fm Broadcasting)

♦Nine Lives – A Musical Story Of New Orleans (The Complete Set)
♦The Allen Toussaint Collection
♦The Complete Warner Bros. Recordings
♦The Sound of New Orleans
♦Whirlaway
♦25 Best Of…
♦Happy Times
♦Everything I Do Gonh Be Funky

♦Java
♦Heavenly Baby
♦Tiddle Winks
♦Happy Times in New Orleans. The Early Sessions, 1958 – 1960
♦Pelican Parade
♦Christmas Gumbo
♦The Best of Allen Toussaint
♦Beverly Baby

Allen Toussaint The Bright Mississippi

The Bright Mississippi is an album by New Orleans Jazz and R&B pianist Allen Toussaint released on Nonesuch Records in 2009.

Allen Toussaint Songbook

In 2005, Hurricane Katrina forced Allen Toussaint out of New Orleans where he then moved to New York and began an extended residency at Joe’s Pub in Manhattan. He was recorded their solo over the course of two evenings in September 2009.

For more than 50 years, his compositions have helped define New Orleans music and American pop music.  Allen has written and/or produced hits for Ernie K-Doe, the Meters, the Nevilles, Lee Dorsey, Irma Thomas, the Pointer Sisters, Labelle, and countless others, even Glen Campbell (“Southern Nights”).

He reprises some of his most notable creations here, although it would take a box set to really do his oeuvre justice. His piano playing may lack the virtuoso flash of a James Booker or the second-line strut of a Professor Longhair, but it effortlessly incorporates their influences as well as those of Tuts Washington and other Crescent City keyboard greats, and the orchestral depth and sweep of his playing add a touch of elegance. Likewise, his voice isn’t a hard-soul instrument, but there’s a warm-hearted tenderness to his readings that’s both captivating and emotionally resonant.

Allen Toussaint Southern Nights

Southern Nights is an R&B concept album by Allen Toussaint in 1975. Seminal to the development of New Orleans R&B, Toussaint incorporated into the album elements of funk and soul music, while, according to AllMusic, suggesting neo-psychedelia.

Two singles were released in support of the album, “Country John” backed with “When the Party’s Over” and “Southern Nights” Toussaint’s signature song backed with “Out of the City”.

Although neither single charted for Toussaint, “Southern Nights” as later covered by Glen Campbell in 1977 reached number one on Billboard‘s country, pop and adult contemporary charts. Released in May 1975 by Reprise Records, the album has been subsequently reissued multiple times on both LP and CD.

Allen Toussaint American Tunes

American Tunes is the final recording from New Orleans jazz and R&B pianist Allen Toussaint, released on 10 June 2016 on Nonesuch Records.

It was produced by Joe Henry and includes music from a 2013 solo session at the pianist’s home studio in New Orleans and an October 2015 session featuring musicians Bill Frisell, Charles Lloyd, Greg Leisz, Jay Bellerose, and David Piltch, with special guest vocalist Rhiannon Giddens and pianist Van Dyke Parks, recorded in Los Angeles the month before Toussaint died.

The album title is taken from the 1973 Paul Simon song “American Tune,” which Toussaint performs on the album. Also included are songs written or recorded by Toussaint, Professor Longhair, Duke Ellington, Bill Evans, and Fats Waller.

Allen Toussaint was due to play with Paul Simon in a New Orleans benefit concert to celebrate the 30th anniversary of New Orleans Artists Against Hunger and Homelessness, an organization Toussaint co-founded, on December 8, 2015; instead, Simon played the concert without Toussaint in tribute to the late musician. 

Allen Toussaint Yes We Can Can

“Yes, We Can Can” is a 1973 funk song recorded by the American R&B girl group the Pointer Sisters and released on the Blue Thumb record label.

It is a political song advocating unity and tolerance written by Allen Toussaint. The Pointer Sisters’ version features intricate background vocals and Anita Pointer’s lead vocals. The song is also used in the films The Associate, Big Momma’s House, Ali, Maid in Manhattan, and Sunday Driver.

Allen Toussaint Vinyl

Allen Toussaint: The Wild New Orleans Piano Productions CD A$19.05

Life, Love $ Faith LP A$40.06

Wild Sound Of New Orleans A$18.88