By Bob Berry

You can hardly feel sadness when  person dies doing what they truly loved. And so it is with the news of Allen Toussaint’s death in Spain on Monday.

Mr. Toussaint, a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, was 77.

His career in music was legendary, and in a city of musical giants, Louis Armstrong, Professor Longhair, Fat Domino, Dave Bartholmew and the Neville Bros., to name a few; Mr. Toussaint career and contributions stand second to none.

We at Keener13.com mourn the passing of Allen Toussaint, and celebrate his life with a Top 5 overview of his music. Rest In Peace, knowing we are forever grateful for the good times you have left for the ages.

In 1975, be it at the roller rink, the dance floor, house party on on the radio, you could not miss the unmistakable sound of Patti Labelle, with a #1 song written by Bob Crewe and Kenny Nolan, and produced by Mr. Toussaint.

Number One in 1961, written and produced my Allen Toussaint, here’s Ernie K-Doe.

Inspired by his childhood memories of nights in Louisiana, Mr. Toussaint’s “Southern Nights” resonated with Glen Campbell, who hit # 1 on three different charts in 1977.

Another smash from The Big Easy, Lee Dorsey was Top 10 in 1966, with another song written and produced by Allen Toussaint.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsZT-Gj7QNI

And, you save (one of) the best of the best for last. This one we remember (more) from driving with our Dads, listening to “their” stations. NOLA jazz great Al Hirt, with a Top 5 song written by Mr. Toussaint (and produced by the great Chet Atkins), from 1964.

By Bob Berry

Labor Day Weekend is here, the official end of Michigan’s all-too-short summer.

Labor Day also coincides with the opening of college football season, and the buzz over the re-build in Ann Arbor, and the re-load in East Lansing. Plus, the kids will (finally?) head back to school-and won’t Tuesday morning be fun!

Of course, Labor Day celebrates The American Worker. So for this week’s Friday Songs, here’s a Keener Countdown of the Top 5 songs about work. Enjoy the weekend, everyone!

#5. Jersey Boys checking in, this Four Seasons song from 1966, was later a hit for The Spinners in ’79.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sfpm2I0dev8

#4. The great Sam Cooke, with a song he wrote that went all the way to #2, in time for Labor Day, 1960.

#3. Tommy James was just “makin a livin’..”, he wrote it, produced it, and you made it Top 5 on Keener in 1971.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmS_arelR-M

#2. The Beatles, who could have been a Top 5 on the own! We picked a favorite, the title song to their first movie!

#1. Lee Dorsey, top 10 in the summer of ’66. Because somewhere along the line, over Labor Day weekend, you’ll be kickin’ back, lovin’ life and need a groove. And there a few grooves better than a New Orleans groove!