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Coffee Break

9:30 Coffee Break: Remembering Allen Toussaint

by Jill Riley and Sean McPherson

November 10, 2015

Allen Toussaint
Allen Toussaint photographed while attending The Musical Mojo of Dr. John: A Celebration of Mac & His Music at the Saenger Theatre on May 3, 2014, in New Orleans.
Skip Bolen/Getty Images for Blackbird Productions

BBC News reports today that R&B legend Allen Toussaint has died from an apparent heart attack after a concert in Madrid. He was 77.

A revered figure of New Orleans R&B, Toussaint was a musician, songwriter, composer and record producer. Toussaint's hit songs include "Working In The Coalmine," "Southern Nights" and "Fortune Teller," and he worked with some of music's biggest stars, including Paul McCartney, Irma Thomas, Aaron Neville, Joe Cocker, Glen Campbell and Elvis Costello. In 2012, Toussaint was presented the National Medal of Arts by President Barack Obama.

With this sudden news, we'd like to pay tribute to the late Toussaint by featuring Toussaint recordings, songs and collaborations.

So for today's 9:30 Coffee Break, what songs do you want to hear that were performed, written or produced by Allen Toussaint? Send us your requests.

Songs Played


Allen Toussaint "Get Out of My Life Woman"
The Rolling Stones "Fortune Teller"
Elvis Costello and Allen Toussaint "Ascension Day"
Irma Thomas "Ruler of my Heart"
LaBelle "Lady Marmalade"
Lee Dorsey "Working in a Coalmine"
The Yardbirds "A Certain Girl"
Allen Toussaint "She Once Belonged to Me"

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