Allen Toussaint, a renowned New Orleans-based R&B singer-songwriter, was born on January 14, 1938, in the vibrant city of New Orleans, Louisiana. As the son of Naomi and Clarence Toussaint, Allen grew up in a shotgun house in the Gert Town neighborhood, where his musical journey began.
Starting at the tender age of seven, Allen learned to play the piano, and by his teenage years, he had already started his music business career, playing piano for legendary artists such as Fats Domino and Earl King. Initially, Allen wrote songs under the stage name Tousan, and by the early 1960s, he had established himself as a formidable in-house producer, composer, and arranger for various record labels, including Minit and Instant.
Throughout his illustrious career, Allen penned numerous hit songs, including "Ya Ya," "Fortune Teller," "Ride Your Pony," "Mother in Law," "Lipstick Traces (On a Cigarette)," "Working in a Coalmine," "Play Something Sweet (Brickyard Blues)," "Get Out of My Life, Woman," and "Ruler of My Heart." The latter was famously reworked by Otis Redding as "Pain in My Heart." Moreover, Allen's song "Java" won jazz trumpeter Al Hirt a Grammy Award in 1964.
After serving in the US Army from 1963 to 1965, Allen returned to New Orleans and founded the production company Sansu Enterprises, as well as the renowned Sea-Saint Studio. During this period, he produced the Top 10 hit "Right Time, Wrong Place" for Dr. John and Patti LaBelle's disco sensation "Lady Marmalade." Allen also collaborated with Paul Simon, Joe Cocker, and Paul McCartney, and wrote the #1 country smash "Southern Nights" for Glen Campbell.
In 1996, Allen established the label NYNO and was inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998 in the non-performer category. He was subsequently inducted into The Louisiana Music Hall of Fame in 2009 and The Blues Hall of Fame in 2011. Following the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina, Allen relocated to New York City and became an advocate for the musical legacy of New Orleans.
Eventually, Allen returned to New Orleans and was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 2013. He was also honored with a bronze statue on Bourbon Street that same year. Tragically, Allen passed away on November 10, 2015, at the age of 77, while touring in Madrid, Spain.
