Fats Domino

"I sat in the dimly lit Grossman's Tavern  sipping on my drink, when in walked Cliff Bastien, the talented frontman of the band I managed.  he asked if I wanted to join him in seeing the legendary Fats Domino, who was performing at the El Macambo just a block up the street. I eagerly accepted and we made our way to the venue.

As soon as we arrived, the energy in the air was electric. Fats Domino took the stage, effortlessly entertaining the crowd with his famous hits. Cliff and I were mesmerized by his performance, tapping our feet and singing along. After the first set, Cliff led me to the dressing room, where he confidently knocked on the door. To my surprise, Fats opened it with a warm smile and welcomed us inside. As Cliff introduced us, I couldn't help but feel starstruck in the presence of such a musical legend.

To my amazement, Cliff and Fats were old friends. Cliff started telling Fats stories about Fat's relatives. Fats turned to me and said " Man he knows more about my relatives than I do." As they chatted, I learned that Cliff had lived in New Orleans for a period of time and was familiar with many of Fats' relatives. In fact, Fats' uncle had even taught Cliff how to play the banjo. It was clear that these two shared a deep connection and I was lucky enough to witness it firsthand.

As we made our way back to catch the closing set, Fats surprised everyone by dedicating a song to Cliff.  And just when we thought the night couldn't get any better, Fats ended his performance by playfully bumping the grand piano across the stage with his belly.

Before we said our goodbyes, we stopped by the dressing room one last time to thank Fats for an unforgettable evening. As I left the tavern that night, I couldn't help but feel grateful for being in the right place at the right time. It was a night I would never forget."