New Orleans Declares January 14 Allen Toussaint Day

The New Orleans City Council has passed a resolution officially declaring January 14 as Allen Toussaint Day in the City of New Orleans. Introduced by District “A” Councilmember Susan Guidry, the resolution will honor Toussaint on what would have been his 78th birthday.

Born in New Orleans in 1938, Toussaint was raised in the Gert Town neighborhood. A fixture of the New Orleans music scene and an undeniable influence on a countless number of musicians, Toussaint died unexpectedly on November 10, 2015. Many of his over 100 compositions became widely popular during the course of his Rock and Roll Hall of Fame career, including such memorable songs as “Working In A Coal Mine,” “Get Out Of My Life, Woman” and “Mother-In-Law.”

“Our artists and musicians are our ambassadors, as their talents, hard work, and genius creates the culture for which we are internationally known,” said Guidry. “Their travels share that culture with countless individuals and communities, and their successes and creations infuse our city with a vibrancy and soul unmatched elsewhere in the world. Allen served our city as one of our finest ambassadors.”

According to NOLA.com, the children of Toussaint, Alison Toussaint-LeBeaux and Reginald Toussaint, were on hand to witness the passage of the resolution. “I just want to say thank you. He loved the city more than life itself, and anytime he left, he wanted to know how long he’d be gone from the city,” said Toussaint-LeBeaux. “It will be a moment we will never forget.”

Read more about Allen Toussaint, including tributes from around the globe via this link and stream a Spotify Playlist comprised of his most well-known compositions here.