Allen Toussaint Reclaims Rock Hall Statue Lost in Katrina

Legendary New Orleans producer and songwriter Allen Toussaint lost the statue recognizing his 1998 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame when Hurricane Katrina destroyed his home last year. So he brightened up our Monday morning and stopped by the New York office of the Rock Hall (located in the same building as Rolling Stone) to pick up a replacement. After graciously acknowledging RS for our coverage of the plight of New Orleans (pat ourselves on the back much?), Toussaint urged all of the media types present not to let the story drift into the background. That applies to you too, readers!

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Song Stories

“Help Me”

Joni Mitchell | 1974

Joni Mitchell wrote and recorded this song for her album Court and Spark, but she had to switch from her regular band to make the song sound exactly the way she wanted. "I had attempted to play my music with rock & roll players," she told Rolling Stone. "They’d laugh, 'Awww, isn't that cute? She's trying to teach us how to play.'" Mitchell switched to a jazz band, Tom Scott’s L.A. Express, and scored the biggest hit of her career in the process.

More Song Stories entries »

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