The crowning glory of the fifth anniversary celebration at the House of Blues was the Fats Domino show on January 3rd, 1999.

This was the first time in two years that the Fat Man has performed in public. I can only recommend that you make every effort In your power to be there when he takes to the stage at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on April 25,1999, Fats Domino and Dave Bartholomew together have sold more records than anyone living on planet earth today.

The only one who has ever sold more is Elvis Presley and no one seems quite certain whether he is dead. Fats Domino is very much alive as demonstrated by this historic event. The Olympia Brass Band led by Milton Batiste opened the show. Their combination of second  line and jazz tunes primed the crowd for what was to come. The House of Blues proved an intimate setting to witness the most legendary figure in the history of rock and roll and rhyhm and blues.

Despite the $100 ticket price the show was.a sell out and fans came literally from around the world. Fats Domino disappointed no one.

The band included Herb Hardesty on alto saxophone and trumpet, Elliot ‘Stackman’ Callier and Reggie Houston on tenor saxophone and Roger Lewis on baritone saxophone. New Orleans native Teddy Royal who now resides in London was on guitar. The syncopated Bobby Jones who plays regularly with Eddie Bo was on drums. Fats Domino handled all the vocal and piano duties as only Fats can.

He paraded through over two hours of gold record after gold record. “Blueberry Hill,” “My Josephine,” “When the Saints Go Marching In,” “Blue Monday,” “I Hear You Knocking,” “Let the Four Winds Blow,” and the other songs he performed never felt dated or trite. In contrast they were performed with so much energy that he kept the audience on their feet and dancing the entire night.

It is impossible to sit still when the Mr. Domino’s powers are in full swing. I wish he had performed ‘The Fat Man’ which was not on this night’s playlist.

The only glitch of the evening came as the band played its intro number. Fats was in the dressing room preparing to come on stage. The story goes that he went into the restroom and when he came out to his surprise someone had stolen his pants. He sent a friend down to the lower Ninth Ward to retrieve another pair. This meant we were treated to an unplanned half hour intro by the band.

It was like waiting for a Mardi Gras parade. The added anticipation only added to the excitement of this spectacular event.