Various media in the States and Europe are reporting the death yesterday of Allen Toussaint, the great New Orleans composer, pianist, songwriter, producer and performer.

He was 77 and had been touring in Spain and had just performed at the Teatro Lara in Madrid before suffering a heart attack. He had also been due to play the London Jazz Festival this Sunday night among other engagements. His family confirmed the death to WWL-TV in the States.

Best known for the songs ‘Southern Nights’, which became a hit for country singer Glen Campbell, ‘Ruler of My Heart,’ ‘A Certain Girl,’ ‘Fortune Teller’ and ‘Lipstick Traces (on a Cigarette)’ Toussaint in recent years collaborated with Elvis Costello on the album The River in Reverse and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Blues Hall of Fame and the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame and received the National Medal of Arts from President Obama.