Allen Toussaint

During the 1960s Allen Toussaint took over the mantle of the Crescent City’s musical master chef from Dave Bartholomew. Acting as songwriter, pianist, and producer, Toussaint was responsible for national hits by Ernie K-Doe, Chris Kenner, Jessie Hill, Aaron Neville, Irma Thomas, and the Showmen, all recorded for local entrepreneur Joe Banashak’s Minit label. Many of the songs were written at informal rehearsals with the singers in the front room of Toussaint’s parents’ home and...