November 21: Dr. John was born in 1940 – Happy Birthday!

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You wanna do some livin’ before you die. Do it down in New Orleans…
~Dr. John

When the voice and the vision on the inside is more profound, and more clear and loud than all opinions on the outside, you’ve begun to master your life.
~Dr. John

Dr. John full set at Newport Jazz Festival 2006:

wikipedia:

Birth name Malcolm John Rebennack
Also known as Mac Rebennack
Dr. John Creaux
Dr. John the Night Tripper
Born November 21, 1940 (age 77)
New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
Genres New Orleans Blues, New Orleans R&B, Rock & roll,Jazz, Funk, Zydeco
Occupation(s) Vocalist, musician
Instruments Vocals, piano, keyboards,guitar
Years active 1950s–present
Labels Atco, Blue Note, Nonesuch,Concord, Proper
Associated acts The Nite Trippers, Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band, Van Morrison, Dan Auerbach,Curious George (TV series),Eric Clapton, Bob Seger, Joe Walsh, Spiritualized
Website www.nitetripper.com

 

Malcolm John “Mac” Rebennack (born November 21, 1940), better known by the stage name Dr. John (also Dr. John Creaux, orDr. John the Night Tripper), is an American singer, songwriter, pianist and guitarist, whose music combines blues, pop, jazz as well as zydeco, boogie woogie and rock and roll.

Active as a session musician since the late 1950s, he gained a cult following in the late 1960s following the release of his albumGris-Gris and his appearance at the Bath Festival of Blues and Progressive Music. He performed a wildly theatrical stage show inspired by medicine shows, Mardi Gras costumes and voodoo ceremonies. Rebennack has recorded over 20 albums and in 1973 scored a top-20 hit with the jaunty funk-flavored “Right Place Wrong Time”, still his best-known song.

The winner of six Grammy Awards, Rebennack was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by singer John Legend on March 14, 2011. In May 2013, Rebennack was the recipient of an honorary doctorate of fine arts from Tulane University. He was jokingly referred to by Tulane’s president, Scott Cowen, as “Dr. Dr. John”.

Dr. John – Revolution [Official Video]:

Recognition

Grammy Awards

  • 1989 Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Duo Or Group – Makin’ Whoopee
  • 1992 Best Traditional Blues Album – Goin’ Back To New Orleans
  • 1996 Best Rock Instrumental Performance – SRV Shuffle
  • 2000 Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals – Is You Is, Or Is You Ain’t (My Baby)
  • 2008 Best Contemporary Blues Album – City that Care Forgot
  • 2013 Best Blues Album – Locked Down

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

  • 2011 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee

His greatest album:

Droning blues, steamy funk, and loopy R&B are inseparably entwined in its groove. Remarkably, though rightfully considered a psychedelic masterpiece, there is little rock music on Gris-Gris. Its real achievement — besides being a classic collection of startlingly deep tunes — is that it brought New Orleans’ cultural iconographies and musical traits to the attention of an emergent rock audience.
~Thom Jurek (allmusic.com)

Play list from Youtube:

Spotify:

-Egil & Hallgeir

Hallgeir Olsen

View Comments

  • Oh, yes! By all means a very happy and merry birthday to the good Doctor John. The Gris Gris Man. The night tripper. I have enjoyed his music for years and years. Locked Down, produced by the talented Dan Auerbach, is yet another gem in a career packed full of them. I had the good fortune to see Dr. John in concert a year ago. It was the first time I enjoyed myself since the election. I thought walking home how very much I had relished the music. The great spirit shared by the music makers was much needed and so appreciated.

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