Allen Toussaint is one of the founders of the New Orleans sound.His impact has been great, especially as a composer. Pianist Toussaint has penned evergreens like
Ride Your Pony,
Working in the Coal Mine and
Get out of My Life Woman. These songs largely became known as covers. Toussaint's success as a producer and songwriter began in the early 60s. But it was only in the 70s that he gradually began to perform as a soloist. In the mean time, Toussaint has worked with big stars like The Meters, Dr. John and Robert Palmer. His biggest successes as a producer were with LaBelle - Toussaint produced the hit
Lady Marmalade - and with Paul McCartney's Wings album
Venus and Mars. Early this century, his work gained more attention. The pop star Elvis Costello picked up on this and recorded the album
River in Reverse with him. The man from New Orleans remains very active. He tours continuously and earlier this year, he released the album
The Bright Mississippi on which fellow New Orleans musician Nicholas Payton can be heard. The trumpeter is Toussaint's special guest at the North Sea Jazz Festival.
