Over the course of the previous year, at a series of recordings at New Orleans’ Esplanade Studios and the homes of Rebennack and Theriot, Dr. John had completed his final album, a mix of new originals, country-tinged covers and reworked Dr. John classics recorded with a series of hand-picked New Orleans session musicians. Despite his failing health and various logistical roadblocks, the piano player, songwriter, and singer who recorded over 30 albums throughout his career had seen his way through completing one last album.
“I understood that this was his last record,” says David Torkanowsky, who played keyboards on the album. “It was emotional in the studio just to hear him. It had a certain weight to it that only something that’s the last time you do it can have.”Dr. John began recording his final album in 2017, first at Theriot’s home, then at Esplanade Studios. In early 2018, his health declined, and at a second session at Esplanade, he struggled to play the piano. “It was really difficult for him to deliver a performance,” Esplanade studio engineer Misha Kachkachishvili says of the second session. (Source Rolling Stone)
Dr. John, the New Orleans singer-pianist whose hoodoo-drenched music made him the summarizing figure of the grand Crescent City R&B/rock ‘n’ roll tradition, died Thursday of a heart attack at age 77.
“Towards the break of day June 6, iconic music legend Malcolm John Rebennack, Jr., known as Dr. John, passed away of a heart attack,” a statement on his social media pages said.
“The family thanks all whom shared his unique musical journey & requests privacy at this time. Memorial arrangements will be announced in due course.”
His career started in the late 1950s, when he became prominent as a pianist and singer on the New Orleans music scene, before gaining recognition as a solo performer with the release of his album Gris-Gris in 1968.
— Dr. John (@akadrjohn) June 6, 2019
Dr John received six Grammy awards during his lifetime and was known as a pioneer within the music industry as he blended different music styles to create a unique sound.
RIP Mac Rebennack, Dr John
w DH 2015
Pic @chrissteinplays pic.twitter.com/mmatLJciTs— Debbie Harry/BLONDIE (@BlondieOfficial) June 6, 2019
Based in New Orleans, he recorded over 20 albums and blended music styles of blues, jazz, boogie and rock and roll.
Dr John was born on November 20, 1941, and got his big break in the sixties delighting fans with his unique style.
The pinnacle of his career was when he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by singer John Legend in 2011.
He recorded some 35 albums, and three of them won Grammys - most recently "Locked Down" in 2013.
That album touched on drugs, his time in prison - he got a two-year sentence for drug charges in the mid-60s - and efforts to repair his relationship with his children.
He was married twice and told the New York Times he had "a lot" of children.
