Mac Rebennack, better known by his moniker Dr. John, has passed away due to a heart attack.
The 77-year-old New Orleans pianist, singer-songwriter and producer fulfilled an inspiring career that spanned decades.
“He created a unique blend of music which carried his hometown, New Orleans, at its heart, as it was always in his heart”, Dr. John’s family stated.
Rebennack rose to fame in the ’60s after the success of his colourful voodoo influenced persona Dr. John, then continuing to fuse his New Orleans heritage with blues and psychedelia.
He received a top 10 hit with his album In the Right Place but struggled with the idea of going commercial. He initially likened commercialism to prostitution, but with time reflected that if the musical roots were intact, it could be valuable.
He has played on recordings with the likes of Cher and Frank Zappa and performed alongside Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Eric Clapton and other legends at The Last Waltz concert in 1976.
