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Fats Domino and The Birth of Rock 'n' Roll - Preview

Season 30 Episode 4 | 37s

One of the most popular rockers of the 1950s and early 60s, Fats Domino and his record sales were rivaled then only by Elvis Presley. With his boogie-woogie piano playing rooted in blues, rhythm & blues, and jazz, he became one of the inventors, along with Presley, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis and Little Richard, of rock ‘n’ roll, a revolutionary genre that united young black and white audiences.

Support for American Masters is provided by AARP, The Rosalind P. Walter Foundation, Thea Petschek Iervolino Foundation, Burton P. and Judith B. Resnick Foundation, The Philip and Janice Levin Foundation, Jeffrey Katz and Beth Rogers, Kate W. Cassidy Foundation, The Marc Haas Foundation, Lillian Goldman Programming Endowment, Seton J. Melvin, Candace King Weir, Koo and Patricia Yuen, Laura Richards and Jim Naughton, Filomen M. Dagostino Foundation, André and Elizabeth Kertész Foundation, The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation, Ellen and James S. Marcus, Blanche and Hayward Cirker Charitable Lead Annuity Trust, The Charina Endowment Fund, and public television viewers.
Extras
Celebrate the life and career of Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Mary Oliver.
Listen to Steve Buscemi read Mary Oliver's poem "The Fish" in this excerpt from the film.
Mary Oliver sought to call attention to the destruction of the earth in her work.
Mary Oliver met her life partner, photographer Molly Malone Cook, at Steepletop.
Mary Oliver often hinted at the turmoil within her family, but sought to move past it.
Sports journalist Taylor Rooks has built her career asking athletes the questions that no one asks.
Clive Davis on his journey in the music industry.
Filmmaker Michael Sarnoski breaks down his revisionist version of the Robin Hood story.
Mike Wallace discusses the groundbreaking “60 Minutes” story on tobacco.
Actor Tyler James Williams talks about his acting process and what drives his work.