The Beatles and the Fat Man: the story behind the photo
When the Beatles visited New Orleans for their now-legendary City Park concert in September 1964, they had two primary requests. Following the show, they wanted a day off from their grueling 25-concert, 30-day tour, in order to bask in the music of one of America's most soulful cities; and they wanted to meet local musician Fats Domino, one of their major influences.
As far as that day off goes, it was scheduled – and then un-scheduled when the band was offered a reported $150,000, which is said to be about six times their normal fee, to add a last-minute concert in Kansas City to the jam-packed tour schedule. (After leaving New Orleans and arriving in Kansas City, the band was asked if there was any place in America they'd love to see. Beatle John Lennon's wistful reply: "New Orleans is one of them.")
And as for meeting the notoriously shy Fats? Well, in that case, they scored – and there's photographic evidence to prove it.
Two photos from that meeting make it into Ron Howard's new Beatles documentary "Eight Days a Week: The Touring Years." And while they are, somewhat disappointingly, the only images from the lads' New Orleans stop to make it into the film, they are still priceless images of an impromptu summit of rock 'n' roll legends.
So, a music fan might wonder, how did that meeting come together anyway? And what's the story behind that photograph?
It's a tale that starts with a Frogman – the Frogman, in fact.
By: Mike Scott
Source: Nola.com
