Cornelius "Tenoo" Coleman

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Cornelius Jessie "Tenoo" Coleman (July 5, 1928 – February 20, 1973) was an American R&B drummer from New Orleans. He joined Fats Domino’s band in early 1951, around the same time as Walter "Papoose" Nelson and Wendell Duconge, and played with Domino for about 15 years, becoming a key part of the era’s sound.

Tenoo was left-handed and known for a hard-driving, funky beat that helped drive Domino’s records. He played on many Imperial Records hits, including the 1952 session that produced "Goin' Home" (backed with "Reelin' and Rockin'"); the A-side reached #1 on the R&B chart and crossed to the Pop chart. The Domino band toured constantly, often facing segregation on the road. Producer Dave Bartholomew praised Tenoo as one of the best drummers in the world and Domino valued his driving style.

Beyond studio work, Tenoo appeared on television and film as part of Domino’s high-profile presence. The band’s TV credits included The Steve Allen Show (1956), The Ed Sullivan Show (1956), The Perry Como Show (1957), and American Bandstand. He also played in the 1956 film Shake, Rattle and Roll!. The music and rhythm he helped create contributed to a New Orleans funk influence that resonated with early ska and beyond.

In 1961, the Domino band toured Jamaica, helping influence local music scenes. Tenoo mentored younger drummers, including Charles "Hungry" Williams and John "Jab'o" Starks, and remained an important figure in the New Orleans rhythm scene. In the early 1970s he played with Clarence "Frogman" Henry on Bourbon Street.

Tenoo Coleman died after suffering a stroke on February 20, 1973, at the age of 44, in New Orleans.