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01/11/2018

Reggie Houston: Coffeeshop Conversations #131: Life in Fats Domino's band

By TOM D'ANTONI // Reggie Houston was in Fats Domino's band for twenty years. This is his first interview after Fats' death.

At World Cup Coffee and Tea for another OMN Coffeeshop Conversation.

When Fats Domino died at the end of October, I first heard about it from New Orleans’ Reggie Houston, now a Portlander but for twenty years, the baritone sax player in Fats’ band.

It hit him hard. It still does. I waited a few months before I finally asked a couple of weeks ago if he was ready to talk about it. He said yes. What follows is an extended episode but which barely touches on the life of Fats Domino and Dave Bartholomew and Reggie’s time in the band, but it’s an oral history that’ll knock you out.

What was life on the road like? Who was the enigma of Fats Domino? Who was the real king of Rock N Roll? And on and on.

A heartfelt thanks to Reggie Houston for sharing all of this with us.

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