Allen Toussaint: He Played Something Sweet, Something Funky

ALLEN TOUSSAINT, who died Monday in Madrid of an apparent heart attack, was arguably the greatest songwriter/producer to ever come out of New Orleans. He made some fine records under his own name, but his finest recordings were issued under other names — names like Lee Dorsey, Paul McCartney, Otis Redding, The Rolling Stones, Patti LaBelle, Elvis Costello, The Meters, The Band, Dr. John, Robert Plant, Robert Palmer and Ernie K-Doe. Toussaint was a musical giant.