The United States Postal Service recently announced that the late musician Allen Toussaint will be the subject of the 48th stamp in their Black Heritage series.
Celebrated with an official event scheduled to be held on Jan. 30, the stamp will honor Toussaint’s contributions to music, specifically to help craft the rhythm and blues, jazz and rock’n’roll genres.
With its unveiling, the Allen Toussaint stamp will reportedly be issued in panes of 20. It is set to be the 48th stamp of the Black Heritage series.
Considered to be the longest-running series in the postal service’s history, the Black Heritage series first began on February 1, 1978, with a then-newly issued stamp honoring Harriet Tubman. Since its conception, the series has honored several other notable figures that have left their mark on Black history, including Benjamin Banneker, Sojourner Truth, Bessie Coleman, Scott Joplin, Madam C.J. Walker and Malcolm X.
“Music icon Allen Toussaint’s legacy continues to inspire,” said the USPS in an official press release. “His legendary career spanned decades, producing countless hits and collaborations with a wide array of artists. From classic songs such as ‘Fortune Teller’ and ‘Southern Nights’ to his behind-the-scenes work, Toussaint’s influence continues to resonate globally.”
Born in Gert Town, New Orleans, Toussaint began his music lessons from a young age, learning piano as a child from a neighbor. Inspired by musicians such as Professor Longhair and New Orleans itself, his career officially began as a teenager when he stood in for Huey “Piano Smith” at a live performance with Earl King.
Since recording his first track in 1957 on the Fats Domino record “I Want You To Know,” Toussaint released 11 studio albums, including the acclaimed 1972 release “Life, Love and Faith” and the 1975 concept album “Southern Nights.”
Throughout his career, the late legendary pianist collaborated with a number of musicians, including The Band, long-time friend Dr. John Wings, John Mayall, Albert King, Joe Cocker and Solomon Burke.
For his contributions to music, Toussaint was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame, the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame and the Blues Hall of Fame. In 2013, he was also awarded with the National Medal of Arts by President Barack Obama. Most recently, he was honored with a newly renamed thoroughfare in New Orleans, now known as Allen Toussaint Boulevard.
“It’s who we are,” Mr. Toussaint said about his home city, New Orleans, in an interview with the Red Bull Music Academy. “The food we eat, the history, Mardi Gras Indians who rehearse all year around, the second-line brass bands who strut that stuff, the syncopation, the humor, and the slightly slower pace than the rest of America — the way we mosey along rather than running the race.”
