Fats Domino Birthplace — Lower Ninth Ward, New Orleans

Antoine 'Fats' Domino was born on February 26, 1928, and lived most of his life in the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans, refusing to leave the neighbourhood even as his fame made such rootedness unusual for a major star. His house on Caffin Avenue — painted pink and white, decorated with musical notes — was a neighbourhood landmark and a statement of loyalty to the community that made him. He sold over 65 million records, made 'Blueberry Hill,' 'Ain't That a Shame,' 'I'm Walkin',' and 'Walking to New Orleans' household sounds, and was one of the most significant figures in the transition from rhythm and blues to rock and roll.

Domino's piano style — the rolling left-hand triplets, the easy shuffle beat derived from the New Orleans tradition of Professor Longhair — was the foundation of a sound that influenced Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, and the entire New Orleans rock and roll school. He worked almost exclusively with producer and arranger Dave Bartholomew, whose horn arrangements gave Domino records their characteristic warmth and accessibility. He was one of the best-selling artists in America for a decade.

Hurricane Katrina in 2005 devastated the Lower Ninth Ward and Domino's house; he was initially reported missing before being evacuated by boat. The house was subsequently restored and a historical marker placed outside. Domino died in Metairie, Louisiana, in October 2017. The Lower Ninth Ward remains one of the neighbourhoods most affected by Katrina and the failed federal levees.