The good times rolled New Orleans style as stars and legends like Bruce Springsteen, John Fogerty, Aaron Neville, Warren Haynes, Mavis Staples, Terence Blanchard, Irma Thomas and many more got together for The Musical Mojo of Dr. John: A Celebration of Mac & His Music.
The May 3, 2014 event brought together the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer’s close friends, protégés and collaborators for an evening celebrating his tremendous life, legacy and influence in the music industry.
[Dr. John died five years later, on June 6, 2019, at 77.]
Watch Fogerty perform “New Orleans”
The six-time Grammy winner born Malcolm John “Mac” Rebennack and known by the stage name Dr. John the Night Tripper was a singer, songwriter, pianist and guitarist who combined blues, pop, jazz as well as zydeco, boogie woogie and rock ‘n’ roll with his particular Louisiana panache. He was the foremost musical ambassador for New Orleans music whose raw yet pliant vocals powered such classics as “Right Place, Wrong Time,” “Such A Night,” “Somebody Changed The Lock” and “St. James Infirmary,” among others.
Watch Springsteen and Dr. John perform “Right Place, Wrong Time”
The tribute was held at the historic Saenger Theater in the French Quarter and an all-star band led by producer Don Was on bass, Kenny Aronoff (John Fogerty, John Mellencamp) on drums; Chuck Leavell (Allman Brothers, Rolling Stones) on keyboards and guitarist Brian Stoltz (Neville Brothers) on guitars plus other top players and gospel trio the McCrary Sisters on backing vocals.
Fellow New Orleans legend Allen Toussaint also performed at the event. Toussaint died just over a year later, on November 10, 2015.
Watch Toussaint perform at the tribute concert
The good doctor’s recordings, including a 2024 singles collection, are available here.
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1 Comment so far
Jump into a conversation“My head is in a bad place –
But I’m having such a good time –
I been running trying to get hung up in my mind –
Really got to give myself a good talking to this time.
Just need a little brain salad surgery –
Got to que my insecurity”
They just don’t to write ’em like that anymore.
Had the chance to see the good Doctor in 2016, and passed on the tickets, thinking “Oh, I’ll see him the next time around” – Life Lesson – There was no next time around.
Do what you think you should do – gut feelings are good compasses.
Very nice to see the Night Tripper remembered –
Thank you BCB.