New Orleans pianist Allen Toussaint, 77, dies in Spain

Legendary New Orleans musician Allen Toussaint, who racked up hits like “Working in the Coal Mine” and “Lady Marmalade” as a behind-the-scenes songwriter and producer before he gained new fame as a performer, died Tuesday, not long after a performance in Spain.

“He had a joy about doing it and had a way of writing music to particular singers”, said New Orleans singer Irma Thomas, who worked with Toussaint starting in the 1950s and ’60s when she and others would gather at his mother’s home to rehearse: “I don’t know how his mom put up with all of us in there all the time”. And being in New Orleans and eating a po-boy isn’t the same as growing up in New Orleans and eating them in general, just the same way that listening to 10-year-anniversary reports about Hurricane Katrina on my radio will only give me the illusion that I am any closer to its heat or despair.

Johnny Cash’s daughter, singer-songwriter Rosanne Cash, called his death “an irreplaceable loss”.

“You have to realize the emotion of that moment”, Ehrlich said. He was drawn to the piano as early as the age of 6, after his aunt sent an old upright to his family’s house for his sister to study on. It’s got all the elements: New Orleans favorite Ernie K-Doe (“Burn, K-Doe, Burn!”) singing lead; the booming bass of Benny Spellman, who recorded Toussaint standards Lipstick Traces and Fortune Teller; those rollicking New Orleans horns, which do nothing but make the world a better place. It also included two important instrumentals: “Java”, which New Orleans trumpeter Hirt turned into Top 5 hit in 1964, and “Whipped Cream”, which another trumpeter, Herb Alpert, did with his group the Tijuana Brass. Toussaint performed there so often – starting in 1973 – that Davis said Toussaint referred to the festival as his “annual concert”. He is responsible for so many songs, that we all collectivly know and love, but don’t always remember he wrote. He was named to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and he received a National Humanities Medal from President Obama.

The musician was due to play at London’s Jazz Festival on Sunday among other concert dates. Irma Thomas said Toussaint didn’t do much touring before Katrina but after the storm he felt he needed to tour and bring attention to the city and its music.

“A part of everybody here is lost”.

Toussaint is survived by his wife, Sandra, and children Alison and Clarence “Reggae” Toussaint.