17B: Dr. John
Mardi Gras is a celebration that happens just before Easter. It involves costumes, parades, music, food, and parties. It’s celebrated everywhere – but its home is in New Orleans. Take a look.
The accents around New Orleans and all over Louisiana are some of the most interesting you will hear. Here’s a quick tutorial.
Combine all that – Mardi Gras, crazy New Orleans accents, and a lot of personality – and you’ve got Dr. John.
He was born Malcolm John Rebennack, Jr., in 1941. He was one of the most beloved figures in New Orleans. His music combined blues, pop, jazz, boogie-woogie, funk, and rock ‘n roll. He called it “voodoo rock.” His performances were very theatrical.
When asked the difference between Malcolm Rebennack and his character, Dr. John, he replied, “I got some confusement here.”
Dr. John was one of the most popular performers during Mardi Gras. Here he is with the Mardi Gras anthem, “Iko Iko.” Check out that costume!
Here’s a nice jazz-influenced song from earlier in his career, “Such a Night.”
Dr. John’s biggest hit was “Right Place Wrong Time.”
Louis Armstrong was one of his early influences. He learned about him from his father, who had some of Louis’s records. Late in his life, Dr. John gave this interview about how Louis Armstrong and New Orleans inspired him. (The first two questions in particular.)
In 2014, Dr. John joined several other artists in recording a tribute album to Louis Armstrong. Before going to the recording studio, Dr. John visited the Louis Armstrong museum in New York. There, he saw his hero’s piano – and he couldn’t help himself.
Bonus video! Dr. John’s method of piano-playing is a kind of “rolling boogie-woogie” style, reminiscent of New Orleans saloons in the early 1900s. This video shows you how it’s done. Do you think you could ever play piano like this?