DR JOHN 

Dies 6/6/2019

From Dr John's website

R.I.P Mac Rebennack

R.I.P Mac discovered you from 'The Night Tripper - Gris Gris' as a mere teenager, 'Gumbo' onwards and tried to buy everything since. You introduced me to the Fess and all things Nawleans, Archibald, Tuts Washington, The Meters, Allen Toussaint, Irma Thomas, The Neville Brothers, the stories and the gumbo, even Stagger Lee and Marie Laveau. For all that and more I thank you and may you rest easy now under a hoodoo moon


From Big O:

DR JOHN R.I.P. 1941 - 2019
Grammy-winning American musician singer/songwriter Dr John has died at the age of 77 after suffering a heart attack. The New Orleans-born musician passed away on Thursday, according to a message posted on his official Twitter account. The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame singer combined the genres of blues, pop, jazz, boogie woogie and rock and roll. Dr John, who successfully battled heroin addiction, is perhaps best known for his 1973 hit, Right Place, Wrong Time.
A statement said: “Towards the break of day June 6, iconic music legend Malcolm John Rebennack Jr, known as Dr John, passed away of a heart attack.” It added: “The family thanks all whom shared his unique musical journey & requests privacy at this time. Memorial arrangements will be announced in due course.” Blondie lead singer Debbie Harry was among those to pay tribute, sharing a picture of herself alongside the six-time Grammy winner. Former Beatles drummer Ringo Starr also tweeted a picture, along with the message: “God bless Dr John, peace and love to all his family. I love the doctor, peace and love.”- BBC

At age 17 he lied about his age to tour with this local hit 'Storm Warning' consequently he celebrated his 78th birthday on Wednesday only to be told he was 77!



Turns out it really was the “Right Place, Wrong Time” for Dr. John.

The New Orleans-born musician, whose discography includes that 1973 hit, celebrated his 78th birthday Wednesday. But he was apparently a year early.

Publicist Karen Beninato said she looked into it after talking to friends and relatives of the Rock & Roll Hall member.

Music writer John Wirt, at Nola.com|The Times-Picayune, found a 1941 newspaper birth announcement for the musician, whose real name is Malcolm John Rebennack. And it’s not just the year: The local musicians union confirms the correct day in its records is Nov. 20 — not Nov. 21.

Beninato said Rebennack began adding a year to his age so he could play in New Orleans clubs as a teen in the 1950s.

“Mac has rolled with it since his teenage years,” she said in an email.

The 1940 date has lingered due, in part, to Rebennack himself. Wirt cites the musician’s own memoir, “Under a Hoodoo Moon,” as saying he was born just before Thanksgiving 1940. The incorrect date is in countless published stories, biographies and interviews.

Rebennack himself has been cagey about the birth date. “He keeps his mysteries,” Beninato said.

He canceled some gigs last December and has been resting at his New Orleans area home since then, making no public appearances.

In an interview, Beninato said Rebennack had a traditional New Orleans response when she told him he wouldn’t have to do a press event to mark this year’s correct 77th birthday because he’d already done it last year.

“He said, ‘Yeah — you-right,’” she recalled.

One of the most extraordinary books I have ever read and a prized possession

Buy it here . . . .

This tune was composed by Ahmet Ertegün, the president of Atlantic Records and first recorded by Ray Charles in 1953

Litanies De Saints from 'Going Back To New Orleans' Dr John's inspired piece after composer Louis Moreau Gottschalk