Rock Pioneer, Dave Bartholomew, Dies At 100

By Jim Gilbert On Jun 24, 2019

Bandleader, producer, and composer, Dave Bartholemew died at the age of 100. Bartholomew produced and co-wrote several chart-topping hits with fellow New Orleans native Fats Domino, including “Ain’t That A Shame,” “I’m Walkin’,” and “Let The Four Winds Blow,” as well as songs recorded and performed by Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, Chuck Barry and others.

NEW ORLEANS, LA – MAY 01: Dave Bartholomew performs at the 2011 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival presented by Shell at the Fair Grounds Race Course on May 1, 2011 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Douglas Mason/Getty Images)

Bartholomew also handled brass arrangemenents for Domino’s hits “Blueberry Hill” and “My Blue Heaven.” He wrote Chuck Berry’s hit “My Ding-A-Ling, Dr. John’s “Blue Monday,” which was also recorded by Buddy Holly, and “Witchcraft,” a hit by the Spiders and later recorded by Elvis.

Bartholomew was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991 and he’s also a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame.