Dr. John
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Dr.John | ||
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 Dr. John at "Jazz à Vienne" festival, 2006
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| Background information | ||
| Birth name | Malcolm John Rebennack, Jr. | |
| Also known as | Mac Rebennack | |
| Born | Nov 21, 1940 | |
| Origin | New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America | |
| Genre(s) | Blues, Rock, R&B, Psychedelic rock | |
| Occupation(s) | Vocalist, Musician | |
| Instrument(s) | vocals, piano, keyboards, guitar | |
| Years active | 1950s–Present | |
| Label(s) | Atco, Blue Note | |
| Website | http://www.drjohn.org/ | |
Dr. John is the stage name of Malcolm John Rebennack Jr. (born November 21, 1940), a colourful pianist, singer, and songwriter, whose music spans, and often combines, blues, boogie woogie, and rock and roll.
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[edit] Musical biography
Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, his musical career began as a session musician in New Orleans in the 1950s. Early in his career he also played guitar and was often known as Mac Rebennack. He switched to the bass, and then the piano after his left ring finger was injured by a gunshot, while he was protecting his bandmate, Jesuit High School classmate, and longtime friend Ronnie Barron. Professor Longhair was an important influence on Rebennack. Rebennack gained fame beginning in the late 1960s and early 1970s, with music that combined New Orleans-style rhythm and blues with psychedelic rock and stage shows that bordered on voodoo religious ceremonies, including elaborate costumes and headdress. For a time he was billed as Doctor John, The Night Tripper. The name "Dr. John" came from a legendary Louisiana voodoo practitioner from the start of the 19th century.
He is perhaps best known for his 1973 hit song, "Right Place, Wrong Time", which reached #9 on the Billboard Hot 100. He was also a prominent session musician at this time, playing piano, for example, on the popular Carly Simon and James Taylor duet of "Hush Little Baby (Mockingbird)". He also contributed the song "More and More" to Simon's Playing Possum album. Dr. John has also done vocals for Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits' "Luv dat chicken..." jingle, as well as the theme song ("My Opinionation") for the early-1990s television sitcom Blossom. A version of "Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans" with Harry Connick, Jr. was released on Connick's album 20 and VHS Singin' & Swingin' in 1990. Dr. John also contributed to the 1996 cover version of Lou Reed's Perfect Day with, amongst others, Bono and Tom Jones. His movie credits include Martin Scorsese's documentary The Last Waltz (in which he joins The Band for a performance of his song "Such a Night") , the 1978 Beatles inspired musical "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band", and Blues Brothers 2000 (in which he joins the fictional band The Louisiana Gator Boys to perform the songs "How Blue Can You Get" and "New Orleans"). He also wrote and performed the score for the film version of John Steinbeck's "Cannery Row" released in 1982.
In September 2005 he performed Fats Domino's "Walkin' to New Orleans" to close the Shelter from the Storm: A Concert for the Gulf Coast telethon for relief of Hurricane Katrina, which had devastated his hometown of New Orleans and other areas. In November 2005, he released a four-song EP, Sippiana Hericane, to benefit New Orleans Musicians Clinic, Salvation Army, and the Jazz Foundation of America. On February 5, 2006, he joined fellow New Orleans native Aaron Neville, Detroit resident Aretha Franklin and a 150-member choir for the national anthem at Super Bowl XL as part of a pre-game tribute to New Orleans. On February 8, 2006, he joined Allen Toussaint, Bonnie Raitt, The Edge, and Irma Thomas to perform "We Can Can" as the closing performance at the Grammy Awards.
On July 30, 2006, Dr. John performed a solo piano benefit for New Orleans composer and arranger Wardell Quezergue (King Floyd's "Groove Me") at a New Orleans Musicians Relief Fund benefit at the Black Orchid Theatre in Chicago. Special guest Mike Mills of R.E.M. was in attendance, along with an all-star funk band.
[edit] Discography
- Storm Warning / Foolish Little GirlRex 45 RPM (196?)
- Gris-Gris (1968)
- Babylon (1969)
- Remedies (1970) (Atco, SD 33-316)
- The Sun, Moon & Herbs (1971) (Atco, SD 33-362)
- Gumbo (1972)
- In The Right Place (1973) (Atco, SD 7018)
- Desitively Bonnaroo (1974) (Atco, SD 7043)
- Hollywood Be Thy Name (1975) (United Artists, UA-LA552-G)
- City Lights (1978)
- Tango Palace (1979) (Horizon, SP-740)
- Dr. John Plays Mac Rebennack (1981)
- The Brightest Smile in Town (1983)
- In a Sentimental Mood (1989)
- Goin' Back to New Orleans (1992)
- Television (1994)
- Afterglow (1995)
- Trippin' Live (1997)
- Anutha Zone (1998)
- Duke Elegant (2000)
- Creole Moon (2001)
- All By Hisself: Live at the Lonestar (2003)
- N'Awlinz: Dis Dat or d'Udda (2004)
- Live at Montreux, 1995 (2005)
- Sippiana Hericane (2005)
- Mercernary (2006) (Blue Note 54541)
[edit] Famous fans
Dr. John's song "I Walk On Gilded Splinters" was covered in July, 1970 by Johnny Jenkins, whose supporting musicians included slide guitarist Duane Allman and bass guitarist Berry Oakley; Allman also produced Ton Ton Macoute, the album that contained it. (Allman and Oakley were members of The Allman Brothers Band, formed the previous year). It was also covered in the 1970s and made epic by Humble Pie on their album Performance Rockin' the Fillmore. The same song was also covered in the nineties by Paul Weller and Oasis' Noel Gallagher on Weller's acclaimed album Stanley Road, and again in 2004 by Califone on their acclaimed album Heron King Blues. "Gilded Splinters" is also a concert staple for both Widespread Panic and the Allman Brothers Band. The song "I Walk on Gilded Splinters" also provided a sample for the songs "Loser" by Beck and "Comatose" by P.M. Dawn.
Van Morrison mentions Dr. John on the 1995 album Days Like This in the song "Russian Roulette". Musician and television personality Jools Holland is a fan who regularly features Dr. John on Later with Jools Holland, his weekly musical showcase. Muppet creator Jim Henson was also a fan; his character of Dr. Teeth (from Dr. Teeth and The Electric Mayhem) was heavily based on Dr. John. In a promo for the album Good News for People Who Love Bad News airing on MTV Modest Mouse frontman Isaac Brock names Dr. John as one of his favorite artists.
[edit] Further reading
Under a Hoodoo Moon: the Life of Dr. John the Night Tripper by Dr. John (Mac Rebennack) and Jack Rummel, New York: St. Martin's Press, 1994. ISBN 0-312-10567-3
