Paul Simon Pays Soulful Tribute To Allen Toussaint – NOLA

“I was so looking forward to playing this with Allen,” said singer-songwriter Paul Simon to the Le Petit Theater audience Tuesday (Dec. 8) evening during the gorgeous concert titled “A Tribute to Allen Toussaint, Featuring Paul Simon and Friends.”

The show was originally meant as a celebration of the 30th anniversary of the New Orleans Artists Against Hunger and Homelessness organization, co-founded in 1985 by Toussaint, that has thus far distributed $2 million dollars to charities across the Crescent City.

… But when Toussaint died of a heart attack after a concert appearance in Madrid on Nov. 10, the benefit concert took on a new meaning, as a musical memorial to the seminal Crescent City composer/producer/performer.

“If it’s true that he can see and hear us,” Simon said in his characteristic contemplative whisper, “I’m sure he’d approve…. It’s the cause that he wanted to support. And I’m happy to help.”