Fats Domino

3 5.2

An American piano player and singer who helped create early rock and roll

proper noun
/fæts ˈdɒmɪnoʊ/

: Fats Domino

Fats Domino was a legendary figure in Fats Domino rhythm and blues music.

Examples

When he performed live, Fats Domino captivated audiences with his energetic rhythm and blues performances.
Did you know Fats Domino was a pioneer of rock and roll?
Fats Domino was instrumental in shaping the sound of early rock and roll music.
Many music historians credit Fats Domino with influencing countless artists with his unique piano style.
I love the music of Fats Domino.
Many people recognize Fats Domino for his contributions to rock and roll.
Fats Domino influenced countless musicians with his unique piano style.

Surface Forms

Fats Domino main

Morphology

Fats + Domino

This is a proper name/stage name referring to a specific musician; knowing the literal words 'fats' and 'domino' does not enable a B1 learner to infer the referent or the biographical meaning (American R&B pianist/singer). The combination is idiosyncratic and culturally specific rather than compositional, so its meaning is not derivable from the constituents.

Etymology

Fats Domino was born Antoine Domino; his family name Domino and a childhood nickname Fats were put together as his 'stage name'. That's why Fats Domino is the name we use for the famous pianist and singer who helped start rock and roll.