I’m pretty sure I discovered Fats Domino because of Richie Cunningham. Every time Richie had the hots for some chick, he’d start singing “Blueberry Hill.” I grew up listening to my mother’s old 45s and I don’t think she had any Fats, but watching Happy Days padded my musical knowledge before I was 10 years old.
When I started reading about the history of rock and roll when I was 8, I learned more about Fats and how important he was to the creation and history of the music. Elvis insisted that Fats was the true King of Rock ‘n’ Roll. “A lot of people seem to think I started this business,” Elvis said. “But rock ‘n’ roll was here a long time before I came along. Let’s face it: I can’t sing like Fats Domino can. I know that.”
That’s good enough for me.
