Toussaint McCall facts for kids

Toussaint McCall (born in 1934 – died on August 7, 2023) was an American singer and organ player. He was famous for his rhythm and blues (R&B) music.

Who Was Toussaint McCall?

Toussaint McCall was born in Delhi, Louisiana, in the United States. He lived for many years in nearby Monroe, Louisiana. His father, Reverend D. L. McCall, was a pastor. Toussaint was one of twelve children in his family.

He was named after a very important person. This was Toussaint Louverture, a famous leader from Haiti.

Starting His Music Career

After finishing high school, Toussaint McCall went to Southern University. This university is in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He worked in the music business for many years. Later, he signed a recording contract with Ronn Records. This record company was based in Shreveport, Louisiana.

His Big Hit Song

Toussaint McCall had one very successful song. It was called "Nothing Takes the Place of You." This song became a big hit in 1967. It reached number 5 on the US R&B music chart. The song was released on Ronn Records.

He released more songs and an album after that. However, none of them became as popular as his first hit.

Later Years and Film Appearance

Toussaint McCall kept performing and recording music. He worked with local record companies. In 1988, he appeared in a movie called Hairspray. The film was directed by John Waters.

In the movie, Toussaint McCall lip-synced his hit song. This means he moved his lips to the song as if he were singing it. The movie was set in 1962. However, his song was released in 1967. This made his appearance a bit out of time for the movie's setting.

In 2016, Toussaint McCall was honored. He was inducted into the Northeast Louisiana Music Hall of Fame.

Popular Songs

Here are some of Toussaint McCall's songs that appeared on music charts:

• "I'll Do It for You" (1967) – It reached #77 on the US chart and #26 on the US R&B chart.
• "Nothing Takes the Place of You" (1967) – It reached #52 on the US chart and #5 on the US R&B chart.

Other Artists Covering His Song

Many other musicians have covered "Nothing Takes the Place of You." When an artist covers a song, they record their own version of it.

• In 1976, the band Asleep at the Wheel covered the song. Their version reached #35 on the U.S. Country chart.
• In 2015, Shovels & Rope covered the song. They included it on their album Busted Jukebox, Vol. 1. They sang it with JD McPherson.
• Prince Buster, a Jamaican artist, also recorded a ska version of the song.

See also

In Spanish: Toussaint McCall para niños