So there is an effort going on in New Orleans to change Robert E. Lee Boulevard to Allen Toussaint Boulevard. This is an amazing idea because a) fuck racism, and b) Toussaint is one of the most important voices in American music. Quick thread:

Toussaint’s songs for others are the stuff of legend. Toussaint wrote “Working in a Coal Mine,” sung here by Lee Dorsey:

Toussaint wrote “On Your Way Down,” famously covered by Little Feat, and later Phish.

He wrote “Ride Your Pony,” covered here by James Brown:

He wrote “Everything I Do Gon Be Funky,” heard here by Lou Donaldson:

He wrote “Yes We Can Can,” done here by the Pointer Sisters:

As a producer, he was basically in the Meters. No Toussaint, no “Cissy Strut” or “Look-Ka Py Py” as we know em:

He produced two of Dr. John’s biggest albums, In the Right Place and Desitively Bonnaroo:

He produced Labelle’s “Lady Marmalade.” One of George Porter’s best bass lines!

He arranged the horns on the Band's Rock of Ages!

And on his own, he has at least two ESSENTIAL albums. Life, Love, and Faith. And Southern Nights:

I’m probably forgetting a lot. But there’s a lot in this thread. The man was a genius.