Dave Bartholomew was a trumpet player and songwriter who worked closely with Fats Domino in the 1950s. A prolific and creative writer, he played a central role in the emergence of rock and roll from Rhythm and Blues.
Dave Bartholomew was born in 1920 in Edgard, Louisiana, and started early on his musical career. In 1939 he joined the Fats Pichon band, playing on a Mississipi riverboat as it steamed the route between New Orleans and St. Pauls, Minnesota. During world war II, Bartholomew served with the US Army band.
Once out of the army, he founded his own band, and signed on with the Imperial Records label. After meeting Fats Domino, he produced and co-wrote "The Fat Man", a single that sold over a million copies. Through a long partnership with Fats Domino, the two released hits such as "Ain't it a Shame", "Blue Monday", "Valley of Tears" and many others. They generated sales of several hundred million dollars - a world record at the time.
Many other artists have played Bartholomew's music, including Elvis Presley, Rick Nelson and The Rolling Stones.
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LinksWikipedia article on Dave Bartholomew
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