A Fats chance to help New Orleans

NEW ORLEANS — Some of the biggest names in music pay homage to Fats Domino on a new album, hoping it will help drive the recovery of New Orleans' musical soul.

Elton John, B.B. King, Bonnie Raitt, Paul McCartney, Lenny Kravitz and other big-name artists joined dozens of New Orleans musicians in recent months to record some of Domino's most memorable hits. The result is a two-disc album of 30 songs originally recorded by the 79-year-old Rock and Roll Hall of Fame performer titled "Goin' Home: A Tribute to Fats Domino."

Released this week, the album includes a 1975 recording of "Ain't That A Shame" by the late John Lennon, "I'm Walkin"' by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, "Blueberry Hill" by John and "I Want to Walk You Home" by McCartney and New Orleans jazz pianist Allen Toussaint.

"When I saw the lineup for this album, I was honored to be asked to be a part of it," said Renard Poche, a New Orleans guitarist who in March — with Domino looking on — recorded "I'm Gonna Be a Wheel Someday" with jazz pianist Herbie Hancock and fellow New Orleans musicians George Porter Jr. and Zigaboo Modeliste.

"You could tell he was happy to be there, watching us record his music," Poche said. "He had that glow, that permanent smile on his face the whole time. I think he's very appreciative that all these big names are coming together to help out."

Though Domino opted not to sing for the album, he attended some recording sessions.

Proceeds from the album — which cost only about $50,000 to produce because many artists contributed without pay — will benefit the nonprofit Tipitina's Foundation, which produced the album. The foundation's music programs are geared toward getting instruments in New Orleans schools and providing mentors for young musicians.

A portion of the proceeds also will be used to rebuild Domino's flood-ravaged studio in the Lower Ninth Ward, where he rode out Hurricane Katrina in August 2005 and had to be rescued from a second-story window. For more than a year now, he has been living in the New Orleans suburb of Harvey with his wife, Rosemary.

Formal music programs like those offered through Tipitina's have helped unite musicians with youngsters wanting to learn, said Poche, who mentors high-school music students.

"I'm not just teaching them about the music, I'm talking to them about the business, the emotional side of it, how to build up some calluses and deal with rejection," he said.

Theresa Andersson, a Swedish-born singer and violinist who moved to New Orleans in 1990 when she was 18, said Katrina made her feel an urgency to pass on her musical experience and knowledge. She now volunteers three days a week at a New Orleans school.

"It's an important role for the musicians," she said. "Not just to work with the kids but to educate people outside the city about what's going on here."