Dr. John was a walking, talking, piano-playing embodiment of New Orleans—funky, mystical, and full of heart. With a career that spanned decades and genres, he gave us so much more than “Right Place, Wrong Time.” He was a storyteller, a healer, a Night Tripper, and a king of cool. Here are five lesser-known facts about the man born Malcolm John Rebennack Jr. that’ll make you love him even more.
1. He Wanted a Friend to Be Dr. John First
Before he ever wore the feathered headdress or conjured swampy magic on stage, Dr. John wasn’t supposed to be Dr. John. The persona was originally dreamed up for his friend Ronnie Barron. Barron was going to be the frontman of a wild new stage show inspired by New Orleans voodoo legends. But when Barron dropped out, Rebennack stepped in and the Night Tripper was born. He didn’t just take on the character—he became it.
2. He Once Got Kicked Out of Choir—Then Played With the Greats
As a kid, Dr. John didn’t exactly fit into choir robes. He was kicked out of choir early on, but that didn’t stop him. By his teens, he was jamming with local legends in clubs and learning from the likes of Professor Longhair. Soon enough, he was recording music professionally, working alongside the likes of Little Richard and Guitar Slim. The kid who got tossed out of school ended up becoming one of the most respected musicians in the world.
3. He Lost a Finger—but Found His Sound
A teenage Dr. John made his name on guitar, not piano. That changed one night during a scuffle at a gig in Florida when he was shot in the hand. The injury made it impossible to keep playing guitar the same way. Instead of quitting, he switched instruments—first to bass, and then to piano. That’s when the Dr. John style we know today began to bloom: funky, fluid, and deeply New Orleans.
4. His Tribute to Louis Armstrong Came to Him in a Dream
In 2014, Dr. John released Ske-Dat-De-Dat: The Spirit of Satch, a joyful and heartfelt tribute to Louis Armstrong. The inspiration? According to Dr. John, Satchmo himself came to him in a dream and said, “Do my music your way.” And he did. The album reimagined Armstrong’s classics with gospel, funk, and jazz flourishes, all stamped with that unmistakable New Orleans groove.
5. He Made the Bonnaroo Festival Name Famous Before the Festival Did
Before 80,000 people were dancing in the Tennessee dust each summer, Desitively Bonnaroo was a 1974 album by Dr. John, produced with Allen Toussaint and backed by The Meters. The name “Bonnaroo” comes from Creole slang meaning “the best on the street,” and it perfectly summed up the vibe. When the modern Bonnaroo Festival launched in 2002, they named it in honor of that album and that spirit. Dr. John wasn’t just part of history—he helped name it.
Dr. John left us on June 6, 2019, but his music, his magic, and his message live on. He brought New Orleans to the world, not with fireworks, but with a funky shuffle and a knowing grin. Whether you first heard him on The Last Waltz, spinning Gris-Gris on vinyl, or singing in The Princess and the Frog, there’s always more to discover in his musical gumbo. Laissez les bons temps rouler, Mac.