Born Mac Rebennack on November 21, 1940, notorious New Orleans
vocalist/keyboardist Dr. John has lived the life that matches his mysterious persona. Beginning his professional career while still in his teens, Dr. John was a session guitarist and keyboardist backing up the legendary Professor Longhair as well as a number of other New Orleans notables.
Unfortunately, he became involved in the more negative aspects of his hometown, succumbing to drug addiction and criminal life, eventually doing time for burglary. Upon his release, Dr. John moved to Los Angeles to concentrate on his music. Abandoning the guitar due to having a finger shot off during one of his earlier escapades, he focused on keyboards and vocals, adopting his Night Tripper persona - gruff voiced, bearded and always with a walking stick and beret.
His 1968 debut album 'Gris-Gris' was an innovative combination of blues, boogie, New Orleans R&B, and psychedelic rock with some voodoo-style imagery added as well. With his Mardi Gras demeanor and provocative stage antics, Dr. John became a cult figure, with Mick Jagger and Eric Clapton among his devoted fans.
After his 'In the Right Place' became a top 40 hit in 1973, Dr. John issued a new record each year into the 1980s, when he took a hiatus for most of that decade.
He returned to the scene in 1989, making records for Warner Brothers and then Blue Thumb, as well as performing in numerous commercials and regular guest performances live and on television. His most recent recording, 'Duke Elegant' on Blue Note Records, includes a number of compositions by the
legendary Duke Ellington.