Photo by Dino Perrucci
Six time Grammy winner and New Orleans icon Dr. John has died of a heart attack. He was 77.
Born Malcolm John “Mac” Rebennack, Dr. John was best known for his unique brand of swamp funk, with tunes like “Right Place Wrong Time,” “Such A Night,” “I Walk On Guilded Splinters” and more.
He grew up in NOLA’s Third Ward, and had a passion for music from a young age.
“My auntie taught me how to play the piano as a little kid. She showed me how to play some boogie-woogie stuff and all,” he told the Bonnaroo Beacon in 2006. “But I knew I’d never get a job in New Orleans playin’ no piano with all them bad piano players around. Everybody, every neighborhood had bad piano players. I wanted to play music, so I figured that’s how I’m gonna get me a job learn the guitar.”
Nevertheless, after injuring his left hand in a gunfight, Dr. John returned to the keyboard and broke onto the scene in 1968 with his album Gris Gris.It was during this era he adopted the persona of The Night Tripper, a title that stuck with him for the rest of his life.
Later, he teamed with fellow funk trailblazers The Meters on classic LPs like In The Right Place and Desitively Bonnaroo (the latter becoming the inspiration for the landmark Bonnaroo Music Festival).
Dr. John was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2011, and his final live performance was, appropriately, at the 2017 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.
He retired from public life in 2018. “After six decades of life on the road, Dr. John is taking a well-earned break and resting at home,” read a statement from his publicist.
“I had to hustle out of left-field to stay in this business,” Dr. John said in 2006. “Cause I was never musically trained or I wasn’t a lot of things.”
The Night Tripper remains one of the most unique voices to ever come out of New Orleans, his style and character only overshadowed by his tremendous talent. He will be dearly missed by music fans worldwide.
5 Comments comments associated with this post
me
June 7, 2019 at 5:57 pmWow, another one in a million legend gone. Thanks for the memories since I was too young to understand music yet somehow enjoyed Right Place, Wrong Time soooo much… all the way up until a few years ago when you graced us with your presence at one of the free shows at the Rochester Jazz Festival. RIP Dr. John
Greg
June 7, 2019 at 4:24 pmPhish headie I don’t usually like any censorship here but thanks jambands for deleting that garbage. Ridiculing somebody that just passed is worthy of a good ass beating or at least some serious mental treatment. Look up all the great songs Mac played on, in addition to his own, and everything he did to help New Orleans after Katrina. You only wish you could accomplish anything close.
blackpeter
June 7, 2019 at 11:26 amI remember him on the beach in N.J. as one of those summertime hits on the radio w/Right place wrong time. Later on I discovered how truly original and flavorful he was. Another true legend has passed on. RIP Mac.
Charles
June 7, 2019 at 10:14 amA legend. A true original. Rock and Roll hall of famer…on how many records???
All Phish Headie got was a troll badge.
I am sure Trey And Mike are impressed by you co opting their band name to troll here and make an ass of yourself. Denigrating a music great in their name is a sure way to impress each player. Way to go!!!! Trey love you. I have a soiled pair of Fishmans underwear I will sell you for $100.
Greg
June 7, 2019 at 2:55 amGlad I got to see him live several times. A unique musical talent that will be missed. RIP.