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, with
The Rolling Stones the popular 1972 song
Let It Loose, as well as on the popular
Carly Simon and
James Taylor duet of "
Mockingbird" in 1974. He also contributed the song "More and More" to Simon's
Playing Possum album. He was co-producer on
Van Morrison's 1978 album
A Period of Transition and also played
keyboards and
guitar. He has played and recorded with
Willy DeVille. His music has been featured in many films including "Such a Night" in "Colors" in 1988.
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.
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 1993, his hit song "Right Place Wrong Time" is extensively used in the movie
Dazed And Confused.
Dr. John has also been featured in several video and audio blues and New Orleans piano lessons published by Homespun Tapes. In addition to the instructional value, there is historical context about many other blues artists.
In September
2005 he performed
Bobby Charles' "Walkin' to New Orleans," a song made famous by
Fats Domino, to close the
Shelter from the Storm: A Concert for the Gulf Coast telethon. This was for the relief of
Hurricane Katrina victims; following the devastation of his hometown of New Orleans.
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 May 12 2006, Dr. John recorded a live session at
Abbey Road Studios for
Live from Abbey Road. His performance was aired alongside those of
LeAnn Rimes and
Massive Attack on the Sundance Channel in the USA and Channel 4 in the UK.
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.
