Allen Toussaint & I first met in 1992, backstage at the New Orleans Big Easy Entertainment Awards Show, in the bowels of the now long-vacant Municipal Auditorium at the foot of Orleans Avenue.
Allen was there to accept yet another award and, as the show’s live announcer – a job I enjoyed for ten straight years – it was my duty that night to introduce him to the packed house.
Warm, engaging, self-deprecating, soft-spoken, and impeccably dressed, Allen Toussaint truly defined the word – Gentle-man. Qualities that truly belied his most amazing and breathtaking list of rather heady and remarkable musical accomplishments.
That night we laughed and got to know each other. In fact, after recognizing my voice from years on local television, he asked me to, “Do a few of those ‘Tonight on Fox Night at the Movies’ promos for my lady, would you, Mike?” Laughingly, I agreed. And did.
November 10th in 2015, across the ocean in Madrid, doing what he loved, and at the age of 77, Allen suffered a heart attack, and proceeded to drop his body… and move on.
As he left us with musical memory after memory after memory. Is it even possible to pick a favorite? From “Mother in Law” to “Southern Nights”, “Working in a Coal Mine” to “Lady Marmalade”, and these are but some of the radio ‘hits’. They just go on and on and on….
I last talked with Allen Toussaint in September 2014, at Lake Lawn Funeral Home, as the NOLA music world all showed up to pay homage to our just-departed friend, mentor, and seminal recording visionary Cosimo Matassa.
You see, the Cos was the one behind the huge mixing console down in NOLA’s French Quarter in the ’50s & ’60s who made all that musical magic happen with Allen and so many others back in the day.
That day – and this is so Allen – the entire crowd, and it was sizable, was all dressed in funereal black. Except for Mr. Toussaint. Ask anyone who was there. Allen wore the most amazing shade of iridescent blue!
Now, we’re the ones who are… blue, that is. As Allen Toussaint belongs to the ages. And pages of musical history.
Oh, and he also loaned his name to a major New Orleans thoroughfare formerly known as Robert E. Lee Boulevard.
But, brother Allen, rest in power and musical paradise, thanks for all you brought us and taught us through all those years.
And for all that MUSIC!
Our ‘Southern Nights’ will never be the same.
** Allen Toussaint waves “Bye, Bye”, as only he could, via YouTube **
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“Mike is a master of his craft, a true audio artisan. The long days I spent recording my audiobook with him were a joy. First and foremost, he is a meticulous professional who wants to make sure that the production achieves the best possible quality. Because of his extensive background as a voice actor, he can coach you in exactly how to make something sound serious, credible, and powerful. And because he built the whole studio himself, he knows how to get the most out of his equipment and produce exceptional recordings.
But more than that, Mike is not just a skilled producer. He’s a great guy, with a tranquil life philosophy that will put you at ease and make you feel comfortable enough to give your best effort. He knows how to make you feel good, from the mood lighting to his calming presence in your headphones. He’s funny, too, and has lots of great stories from his long career in radio. I truly had a blast working with Mike and will write another book just to do a new audiobook with him.”
— NATHAN J. ROBINSON, Editor in chief of Current Affairs magazine and author of ‘Why You Should Be A Socialist’
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