Dr. John: Get to know the Night Tripper
The New Orleanian singer-songwriter embodied the music of his hometown
Last updated 29th Jun 2020
Malcolm John Rebennack Jr, aka Dr John, was a New Orleanian singer-songwriter who embodied the music of his hometown, merging blues, jazz and R&B to create his own distinctive style.
Where was Dr John the Night Tripper from?
Born in New Orleans in 1941, Rebennack was surrounded by the bristling musical heritage of the city he found himself in. During his early teens, Rebennack met the legendary R&B pianist Professor Longhair, who helped inspire him to commit his life to music.
How did Dr John the Night Tripper become famous?
After early sessions playing for Sonny & Cher and Aretha Franklin, Rebennack became fascinated with the lore around New Orleans voodoo, and hence Dr John was born. After landing a recording deal with Atco records, he recorded his debut Gris-Gris, where he attracted a cult following. Soon after, Dr John was recording with fans such as Eric Clapton and Mick Jagger.
Dr John is, perhaps, best known for his commercial breakthrough 1973 release 'In The Right Place', which saw production from Allen Toussaint and backings for The Meters.
When was Dr John the Night Tripper inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?
An inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2011, Dr John was awarded six Grammy Awards in his lifetime - including for his 2008 album 'City That Care Forgot', which paid tribute to the badly-affected New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina.
When did Dr John the Night Tripper pass away?
Dr John passed away on June 6th 2019 at the age of 77. The late New Orleans legend had his 2014 tribute to Louis Armstrong, 'Ske-Dat-De-Dat: The Spirit of Satch', reissued in a limited edition vinyl press a day prior from the one-year anniversary of Dr. John’s passing via The Last Music Company worldwide.