Antoine Domino, Jr., is the birth name of Fats Domino (1928–2017), a pianist and singer-songwriter of French-Creole descent who played an important part in the creation of rock and roll music. Five of his recordings sold more than one million copies (gold records) and 35 made it to the U.S. Top 40. He sold more records than any rocker of the 1950s era except for Elvis Presley and had more hit records than Chuck Berry, Little Richard, and Buddy Holly combined. Some of his well-known songs are "Ain't That a Shame," "Blueberry Hill," and "I'm Walkin'." Because he was revered as a rock and roll pioneer, he was in the original class (1986) inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 1998, he received the National Medal of Arts from President Bill Clinton.
