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Rock ‘N’ Roll pioneer Fats Domino is 82 today. Fats was born on February 1928 in New Orleans.

Fats Domino last hit the headlines in a big way when his home was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in August, 2005. There were serious concerns for Fat’s health for a time, but thankfully he was rescued by a Coast Guard helicopter. Fats moved to Harvey, Louisiana, while his house was being gutted and repaired.

In 2007, a number of great artists tackled Fats Domino hits for the charity album “Goin’ Home: A Tribute to Fats Domino.” Proceeds went to New Orleans public school music programs and to rebuilding Domino’s Hurricane Katrina-ravaged home. Among the contributing artists were Paul McCartney, Dr. John, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Randy Newman, Elton John, Norah Jones, Bonnie Raitt and Willie Nelson.

In the last few years, Fats has received a series of honours, including Offbeat magazine’s Lifetime Achievement Award, and induction into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame, the Delta Music Museum Hall of Fame, and the Hit Parade Hall of Fame.

In November 2008, the PBS documentary “Fats Domino: Walking Back To New Orleans” premiered at Tipitina’s in New Orleans in the presence of Fats. The documentary contains 30 minutes of concert footage from May 2007 at Tipitina’s, as well as interviews with friends and fellow musicians.

Fats Domino’s rolling piano and masterfully laidback, yet powerful vocals, have been delighting music fans since 1949. Here’s a couple of songs that never fail to get the feet tapping:

Fats Domino - Jambalaya (On the Bayou)

Fats Domino - I’m Walkin’

UK fans who tuned into the recent “Only Fools and Horses” prequel, “Rock ‘N’ Chips”, will have seen Fat’s “I Want to Walk You Home” used to great effect throughout the show, including over the final credits. Here’s that fine song.

Fats Domino - I Want to Walk You Home

Happy Birthday Fats Domino.

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Kinks rocker, Ray Davies, has announced that Bruce Springsteen and Jon Bon Jovi will be among the guests on a forthcoming album of duets.

Davies told NJ.com that the duets album will revisit Kinks classics and that the Springsteen and Bon Jovi collaborations were recorded last month. Springsteen will feature on “Better Things” and Bon Jovi on “Celluloid Heroes.”

The possibility of a Kinks reunion was also addressed and Davies hinted that it might be on the cards, depending on his brother’s health status. Dave Davies had a stroke six years ago.

Ray Davies launches an acoustic tour at the Borgata in Atlantic City tonight (Friday, 26 February). The show will feature some hidden gems, alongside new tracks from his last few solo albums, the classics and some unplayed tracks. Davies will be joined onstage by his guitarist, Bill Shanley. There is also a UK/Ireland tour scheduled for May.

Ray Davies 2010 tour dates

The UK Government has listed Abbey Road Studios at Grade II, on the advice of English Heritage. The move follows reports that Abbey Road owners EMI were planning to sell the studios.

Culture Minister, Margaret Hodge, said:

“Music – of whichever genre - is the thread that follows us through all our lives and Abbey Road Studios have produced some of the very best music in the world. It’s a testament to both the importance of music in people’s lives as well as the passion this kind of issue stirs up, that so much interest has been generated by the perceived threat to the future of Abbey Road.

“Whether your tastes are for classical, hard rock or pop music, one of your favourites is more than likely to have recorded at Abbey Road. My favourite song of all time, “If I fell” by The Beatles, was recorded there in 1964, and to have played a part in preserving this world-famous venue is as exciting for me as hearing that song for the first time. Well, almost!”

Abbey Road is most famous for being where most of The Beatles’ albums and singles were recorded between 1962 and 1970. It was therefore no surprise that Paul McCartney was among those calling for the building to be saved when the recent speculation over its future arose. Andrew Lloyd Webber also spoke out and suggested himself as a potential buyer.

The new listing status will mean that, while changes to the interior are not prohibited, any proposed alterations must respect the character of the site.

Source: Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Pete Townsend has told Rolling Stone that The Who may have to stop performing live due to his returning tinnitus.

The Who had planned a sping 2010 tour and some festival appearances, but cancelled these when Townsend’s tinnitus returned while he was working on his musical ‘Floss.’ Townsend told Rolling Stone: “If my hearing is going to be a problem, we’re not delaying shows. We’re finished. I can’t really see any way around the issue.”

The Who will perform a charity gig on March 30th in London where they will play Quadrophenia in its entirety. Townsend will be using an in-ear monitor at the gig, which is designed to prevent any further damage. If the device does not help, it could be the last gig the band plays.

The news comes just weeks after The Who played the Super Bowl halftime show, which was watched by 150 million viewers.