New Orleans pianist/singer and rock & roll pioneer Fats Domino s playing like that of Professor Longhair was derived from the rich mixture of musical styles to be found in New Orleans including jazz Latin rhythms boogie-woogie Cajun and blues. Domino s personal synthesis of these influences involved lazy rich vocals supported by rolling piano rhythms. During the early 1950s Domino gradually became one of the most successful R&B artists in America. By 1955 rock & roll had arrived young white audiences were ready for Domino s music and he began scoring frequent hits on the pop charts.