Songwriter and pianist Allen Toussaint has died

The songs of New Orleans musical legend Allen Toussaint have been described as lovely stories set to music or a handcrafted suit tailored for a specific person.

Toussaint, a songwriter, producer, pianist and performer whose decades-long career helped make such hits as “Working in the Coal Mine“, “Lady Marmalade“, “Southern Nights”, “Fortune Teller”, and “Get Out of My Life Woman“, died Tuesday. “In fact when she saw I had such an interest, at about eight years old she enrolled me in the junior school of music at Xavier University”.

Toussaint died from a heart attack after a concert Monday night in Madrid, Spain. In 1984, The dB’s were filmed as musical guests along with Toussaint for a insane NBC show called The Funniest Man in the World (Or at Least the World’s Fair) that was filmed in New Orleans during the 1984 World’s Fair. He first recorded an instrumental album for RCA Victor as Al Tousan, creating a hit for the trumpeter Al Hirt in the process, titled “Java“, in 1964. His work as a producer and songwriter put him behind hits by everyone from Paul McCartney and Joe Cocker to Aaron Neville and Ernie K-Doe.

Born in New Orleans, Toussaint was as famous for his own music as he was for the sounds of so many others.

Back in 1986, Allen Toussaint told All Things Considered that he could write a song from the scraps of a joke, or from snippets of conversations. Numerous songs feature his unmistakable New Orleans piano stylings, in the mold of one of his greatest influences, Professor Longhair.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee passed away in the early hours of the morning today (November 10th 2015), during his European tour while he had stopped over in Madrid. He also received the National Medal of Arts from President Barack Obama.

Toussaint is survived by his two children, son Clarence, and daughter Alison, as well as many grandchildren. Funeral arrangements are pending.

Mr. Toussaint was one of the guiding forces in the creation of the pop music that would become known as funk.

Patti LaBelle, who worked with Toussaint as part of Labelle and as a soloist, issued a statement to Billboard.

“Allen was a gentle giant!” Perceptive, kind and always open to your input and feelings. He also recorded songs for my brother Art. Later in 1972, he recorded me again with songs like “The Greatest Love” and “Hercules”.

Our thoughts go out to his family, friends, and loved ones during this unexpected and hard time.

Since news of his passing broke, several stars have paid tribute to the iconic musician.

“This dude wrote a few of your favorite music & you just didn’t know it …” “He effected SO many genres”. That’s how you know how potent and effective your art is: when you quietly change the scene w/o proper acknowledgement.

Allen Toussaint was a stylish and elegant man, from his demeanor and attire to his chord changes and melodies, all awash in tradition and guaranteed to tug on heartstrings.

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