Allen Toussaint

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Morrissey suggests via Autobiography that Allen was going to be involved with "The Thoughts Of Jack The Ripper" - the working title for Jack The Ripper:

"Nigel quickly arranges for a studio session in New Orleans with the revered Allen Toussaint. Worn out, the band arrives at the studio where Allen will record the song The thoughts of Jack the Ripper, a ludicrously lost gem in Nigel’s view, yet not the catchiest of titles. I slip into the studio and watch the band warm up. I say hello to Allen, who looks at me and then looks away. The band are rough to the point of bad – having been pushed around America like a debilitated Bay City Rollers, and Allen Toussaint looks concerned. I am now embarrassed by the sound coming through the speakers, of which Allen says to his engineer ‘What have I let myself in for?’ I overhear the comment and I catch the engineer’s reply to Allen, which is a silent sssh in my direction, as if to say to Allen, ‘Steady, he can hear you.’ Without fuss or calamity I rise and exit into the balmy air of New Orleans. Boz follows me. ‘So, what do you want me to do?’ he says. ‘El-vest has left the building,’ I say, not remotely funny. It isn’t a question of vanity or ego, but occasionally there is simply no point."

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American producer, songwriter, arranger, session pianist, solo artist, and label owner.

Born on 14 January 1938 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Died on 10 November 2015 in Madrid, Spain of heart attack while on European tour.

Active in New Orleans’ music industry since the late 1950s, he wrote, arranged and was the house producer with Minit, Instant Records (6), and Alon. His early production successes were the U.S. Top 5 “[r=2780015]” by Jessie Hill, and Ernie K-Doe’s 1961 no. 1 Hit ‎“Mother-In-Law” which he wrote. He has worked with artists such as Irma Thomas (“Ruler Of My Heart”, 1963), Lee Dorsey (“Working In A Coal Mine”, 1966), The Meters, Dr. John, The Band and Elvis Costello. Toussaint entered the U.S. service in 1963, serving at Fort Hood, Texas; he was discharged in 1965. After discharge he teamed up with Marshall E. Sehorn to form Sansu Enterprises Inc.. Their record labels Sansu Records, Tou-Sea Records, Deesu, and Kansu Records recorded Lee Dorsey, Chris Kenner, and Betty Harris, among others. In the 1970s he was producing at the Sea-Saint Studio with Sehorn. In 1996 Allen formed NYNO Records, with the goal to record New Orleans talent. From 1996-1998 NYNO released 15 projects on diverse artists from jazz, gospel, reggae, brass bands and R&B genres, including one on himself and a Christmas sampler from the label. Inducted into Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1998, inducted into Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2011. In 2013 he received the National Medal Of Arts from President Obama.

External Links

https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/347433

Wikipedia Information

Allen Richard Toussaint (; January 14, 1938 – November 10, 2015) was an American musician, songwriter, arranger, and record producer. He was an influential figure in New Orleans rhythm and blues from the 1950s to the end of the century, described as "one of popular music's great backroom figures." Many musicians recorded Toussaint's compositions. He was a producer for hundreds of recordings: the best known are "Right Place, Wrong Time", by longtime friend Dr. John, and "Lady Marmalade" by Labelle.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allen_Toussaint