The First Ever Fats Domino and Dave Bartholomew Exhibit
The Louisiana Music and Heritage Experience, Inc. (LMHE) is developing a 120,000 square foot and $160 million museum that recounts the history of the musical legacy of Louisiana. LMHE is also presenting the inaugural NOLA Funk Fest, a three-day festival celebrating the genre of funk.
NOLA Funk Fest will feature 34 local acts, two symposiums, and the first ever Fats Domino and David Bartholomew exhibit. "I Found My Thrill: The Music and Artistry of Fats Domino and David Bartholomew" will open to the public on October 21 at the New Orleans Jazz Museum and run for the next 20 weeks. Then it will travel across Louisiana museums in an effort by the LMHE to "educate and inspire through [Louisiana's] rich history," according to LMHE Board Chair Chris Beary in a press release.
The origins and founders of rock 'n' roll is an ongoing debate, but Fats Domino and Dave Bartholomew are undoubtedly two pioneers of the genre. The pair sold more records from 1950-1963 than anyone else besides Elvis Presley, amassing over one hundred spots on the pop and R&B charts during that time span.
Antoine Dominique Domino Jr., known as Fats Domino, was born in New Orleans to a French Creole family, thus making English his second language. In his earliest recordings, you can hear a slight accent coming through. His career went on to span five decades and he produced over 25 gold singles and sold over 65 million records.
Dave Bartholomew was a trumpeter, songwriter, bandleader, producer, and arranger also from New Orleans. He is best known for his collaboration with Fats Dominos, but his contributions to music can be traced back to the late 1930s when he started landing gigs with his band as a teenager. Interestingly, he was inspired to pick up the trumpet by listening to Louis Armstrong, and, coincidentally, one of his first music teachers was Peter Davis, the man who introduced Louis Armstrong to the coronet in 1913.
"I Found My Thrill: The Music and Artistry of Fats Domino and David Bartholomew" will illustrate the pair's relationship through iconic artifacts and archival footage.
The exhibit is collaboratively curated by Bob Santelli (author of multiple books on music history and curator of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, two Grammy museums, and five other music museums), David Kunian (musicologist and New Orleans Jazz Museum Curator), as well as Cilista Eberle and Michael Murphy (award-winning documentary filmmakers who recorded the Jazz and Heritage Festival for 25 years).
Single day tickets are on sale for $45 and three-day tickets are available for $100. VIP packages are available as well. All VIP ticket-holders will be granted access to the front and side stages throughout the event, VIP access to food and drinks, VIP bathrooms, and will receive a complimentary merch bag. For more information, go to nolafunkfest.com.
