Of the original ten inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986 , the only ones still living -- as of last week -- were Fats Domino, Little Richard, Chuck Berry, James Brown, Jerry Lee Lewis (also from Louisiana), and both Everly Brothers, Don and Phil. (Buddy Holly died in 1959, Sam Cooke in 1964, Elvis Presley in 1977 and Ray Charles last year.) Fats hasn't been a consistent hitmaker since 1961, but he's been one of the most popular acts on the oldies circuit, and he's got one of the most fun collections of songs ever put on wax (or whatever plastic-like substance CDs are made of). According to the Hall of Fame, Fats sold more records than any Fifties rocker except Elvis, and those buyers knew what they were doing. He also bridged generations, recording Glenn Miller's "Blueberry Hill," a song going from 1940 to 1956 to 1974 when Ron Howard started singing it on "Happy Days" to today when people see reruns of that show. Fats is 77, and if he were to have died peacefully, it wouldn't be a tragedy. But this New Orleans flood is a tragedy on a scale we feared we had on 9/11, with (apparently) thousands dead, spread over a whole city instead of a single multi-building complex. Through in the Mississippi and Alabama devastation, and it's like having a 9/11 and an Oklahoma City at once, and naturally. We've already seen too many human faces of this tragedy, and I hope Fats isn't added to it.

A sad affair all-around. I'm sure other celebrities besides musicians are missing and presumed dead. Others may wish they were after going back. It's just too dangerous and toxic in New Orleans and other hurricane-affected areas to conduct a good search. All we can do is pray for the people's safety and well-being. You hate to see anyone die in a catastrophy like Katrina, let alone accomplished musicians.

Just read on yahoo! news that Fats Domino is okay. Not sure how reliable it is though.

CNN is reporting that as well:

If CNN is reporting that Fats is alive -- at his age, and after this, "okay" may be too strong a word -- no doubt millions of Republicans will be sure he's dead. I prefer to believe CNN and be relieved at the information.

The way this has been handled by Dubya is disgraceful. If these people weren't poor and black, they would have been rescued by now. IMPEACH BUSH NOW

Yes, I agree wholeheartedly! Bush is a disgrace- Where's John Wilkes Booth when we need him?

This is no place for Bush-bashing.This is about Fats

I agree on one count: Bush could have handled it better. HOWEVER, it should be noted that the mayor of New Orleans, who has been crying out that it is Bush's fault, neglected to mention that neither this port's government NOR its police force had any boats. Now THAT part is not Bush's fault. Oddly enough, many news sources, including NPR, somehow overlooked that in their coverage. Odd... But regardless of whether you think Bush is the Antichrist or just bungled several things up . . . we should be glad that good old Fats Domino is alive, and we don't have to say, "Ain't that a shame? He died in the rain."