Musician ‘Dr. John’ dies at 77

11th June 2019   ·   0 Comments

By Geraldine Wyckoff
Contributing Writer

Malcom “Mac” Rebennack, who is best known as the hoodooed, voodooed Grammy-winning pianist, vocalist and composer Dr. John, was as uniquely New Orleans as the city itself. A native of the Crescent City, he styled his own way of playing and his own way of talking from a lifetime of experiences on the streets, in clubs and recording studios and just hanging out. The New Orleans piano giant and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee died on June 6, at the age of 77.

Rebennack was still a teenager when he dropped out of Jesuit High School to pursue his music career though decades later he would receive a Doctorate of Fine Arts from Tulane University. Early in his musical journey, he was at sessions playing guitar in Cosimo Matassa’s J&M Studio, where he was among some of some of New Orleans finest, and much more experienced musicians. He once recalled that Matassa’s “cockeyed” humor helped get them through some challenging times like spending a hurricane in the studio when, despite the rain and wind outside, they got to finish a session. In Dr. John’s own often poetical and sometimes hysterical lingo, he added that “Thankfully, the ‘electricals’ never went off.”

At age 13, Mac met Professor Longhair and played guitar with the iconic pianist and was surely inspired by Fess’ individualistic approach. Dr. John joined Longhair again in 1979 to record Fess’ award-winning album, Crawfish Fiesta that was released following Longhair’s death in 1980.

In the 1960s, Mac also led his own group, Mac Rebennack & the Skyliners that, notably, included trumpeter Charlie Miller who later became a decades-long member of Dr. John’s horn sections. At 16, Mac could be found in nightclubs playing with guitarist/vocalist Earl King and backing singer Frankie Ford.

Rebennack was forced to change his direction when in 1960 he lost part of a finger to a gunshot. Ever musical, and coming from a music-impassioned family, he easily made the transition to the piano which, in fact, was his first instrument.

In 1965, Rebennack headed to Los Angeles and worked as a session man, though soon thereafter he went through another major transition when he became Dr. John, a name taken from a noted free man of color and spiritual healer. His first album under what would become a life-long moniker was 1968’s Gris-Gris that was produced by another New Orleans to L.A. transplant, Harold Battise. The recording included such now classic hits as “I Walk on Gilded Splinters” and “Mama Roux” that remained much-requested tunes throughout Dr. John’s career. Battiste also produced the albums Gumbo and Babylon by Dr. John, who by now was appearing in full regalia – feathers, an exotically carved cane, a decorated piano, colorful attire and seemingly hand-crafted jewelry.

Most fans have a favorite out of Dr. John’s 20 albums under his own name or perhaps dig his collaborations with artists from the full musical spectrum of genres. Also boasting the handle of the Night Tripper, Dr. John loomed large on his 1973 album In the Right Place that included such totally memorable originals as the funky “Right Place Wrong Time” and the swaying “Such a Night.” It’s difficult not to immediately start singing the refrain, “If I don’t do it, somebody else will” on just hearing that title.

His 1992 album Grammy-winning Back to New Orleans, the release of which was celebrated at Charlie B’s club with many of the participants in attendance, included the Neville Brothers and the multi-talented and always witty Danny Barker singing “I Thought I Heard Buddy Bolden Say.” Always one to recognize others, Dr. John also paid tribute to Louis Armstrong and songwriter Doc Pomus on his recordings.

Dr. John was a man of the people, he’d show up in a crowd and participated. Since moving back to New Orleans after a long residence on the east coast, he was very much in evidence checking out social aid and pleasure club parades, Mardi Gras Indian events, sitting in on club dates and paying his respects at jazz funerals.

In 2010, Dr. John reigned as the King of the Krewe du Vieux parade though at the time he’d never attended one of its rather bawdy, often satirical processions.

“The only thing I ever do on Mardi Gras is see the Indians and Zulu,” Rebennack once proclaimed. “I always loved the Indians – with my dad, that’s all we ever did,” he added explaining that he boasts Choctaw ancestry on both sides of his family. Though Rebennack was aware that his fellow musicians like Al “Carnival Time” Johnson and Irma Thomas had reigned as Krewe du Vieux royalties in years past, he became even more inspired when he learned that Danny Barker held the throne in 1994.

“Ah, my old partner,” Rebennack warmly exclaimed. “That makes me glad that the Krewe du Vieux called me to do this shit. People like that are a blessing in your life. I just remember Danny was sweet and he taught and helped so many people.”

Though he was naturally much in demand to be a celebrity guest of Mardi Gras krewes, Dr. John made few appearances aboard Carnival floats as he had some trepidation. “Every time I rode on a float I almost fell off the motherf***ers,” he once said with a laugh. Luckily, his horse drawn float with the Krewe du Vieux was a low rider.

That political satire plays a big role in that parade was right up Rebennack’s alley. On his incendiary 2008 album, The City that Care Forgot, he emphatically made his opinions known about those holding power in government following Katrina. Dr. John showed his support for those devastated by Hurricane Katrina by being central to the benefit, “Shelter from the Storm: A Concert for the Gulf Coast,” that was aired worldwide in some 100 countries. He thoughtfully and movingly sang Fats Domino’s hit, “Walkin’ to New Orleans.”

Dr. John was as personable and swampy off stage as he was onstage. He was engaging and sincerely enjoyed being engaged. The man answered his phone and always had something wise or simply whimsical to say. At Dr. John’s live performances – he played Jazz Fest some 25 times and regularly at Tipitina’s as well as other spots in his hometown and around the world – his mastery of the piano were even more pronounced and his personable spirit filled tents, clubs and concert halls.

It was always “Such a Night” with Dr. John – a one of a kind New Orleans musician, mystic and man.

This article originally published in the June 10, 2019 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.