Interview with Alison Toussaint: The Story Behind the Allen Toussaint Children's Book

In a recent episode of Confetti Park, host Katy Hobgood sat down with Alison Toussaint-LeBeaux to discuss her beautiful new children's book about her dad—New Orleans musical legend Allen Toussaint. It's called The Prince of New Orleans: The Life of Allen Toussaint. "When my dad first passed, I was just thinking I certainly didn't want him to be forgotten. And not that I was really afraid of that, but I knew how important the city was to him and how much he poured into the city. And I wanted to find a way to honor that and how he felt about New Orleans. And the best way I could think to do that was to give to the children of New Orleans."-Alison Toussaint-LeBeaux A Lesson for the Quiet Kids Allen Toussaint was known worldwide for his incredible musical genius, but at home and in the studio, he was famously gentle, reserved, and soft-spoken. "My dad was an incredibly calm, soft-spoken person," Alison shared during the interview. "He said the least amount in the room, but knew the most." As a child, Allen was so shy that he stayed close to his mother's side. Everything changed at age five when a piano was brought into the house for his sister. The moment his hands touched the keys, he found his true language. Alison hopes this biography shows children who might feel small and invisible that they have magic inside them. "You don't have to be the loudest person to make a difference in the world… Find a passion, stick with it, throw everything you have into something you love, and let that take you where you need to go." — Alison Toussaint-LeBeaux Rooted in Family and "Southern Nights" While the book functions as a biography—following Allen from his childhood to receiving the National Medal of Arts from President Barack Obama—it relies heavily on the family values that shaped him. Alison recalls stories of childhood trips out to rural Louisiana to visit family. Packed into a house filled with French-speaking relatives telling ghost stories, the children would sit at the bottom of the stairs and listen. It was these exact memories that later inspired Allen to write his most famous masterpiece, "Southern Nights." Divine Intervention and Visual Magic The book's vibrant illustrations were created by local artist Brendan Palmer-Angell. Alison had admired his work for over a year after seeing a massive public mural he painted of her father on Claiborne Avenue. Through what she calls "complete divine intervention," Palmer-Angell ended working on a project at the architecture firm where Alison works. Despite having never illustrated a children's book before, he jumped on board. The collaboration resulted in stunning imagery, including a deeply personal final page featuring a silhouette of Alison as a little girl alongside her father. The Prince of New Orleans: The Life of Allen Toussaint is an essential addition to any family bookshelf or school library in Louisiana. Keep an eye out for Alison as she brings book readings and live musical accompaniment to schools and libraries around our state! And considering the Allen Toussaint is an American musical legend, music lovers everywhere will want this book. Thank you so much, Alison, for sharing your memories and your book with Confetti Park!