Rock And Roll Hall Of Famer Dr. John Dies

David Moye
Updated

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Dr. John, the New Orleans singer and piano player who blended black and white musical styles with a hoodoo-infused stage persona and gravelly bayou drawl, died Thursday, his family said. He was 77.

In a statement released through his publicist, the family said Dr. John, who was born Mac Rebennack, died “toward the break of day” of a heart attack. They did not say where he died or give other details. He had not been seen in public much since late 2017, when he canceled several gigs. He had been resting at his New Orleans area home, publicist Karen Beninato said last year in an interview.

Memorial arrangements were being planned. “The family thanks all whom have shared his unique musical journey, and requests privacy at this time,” the statement said.

“Dr. John was a true Louisiana legend,” Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards said in a statement. “He showed the world Louisiana’s rich musical heritage, and his passion for music has left a mark on the industry unlike any other.”

Drummer Ringo Starr was among the first musicians to weigh in on Twitter. “God bless Dr. John peace and love to all his family I love the doctor peace and love,” the Beatles legend tweeted.

Fellow New Orleans singer Irma Thomas said he was loved around the world. “He was just a mystical person,” Thomas told WVUE television when asked what made his music special. “He did what he liked best and was very unique with his style.”

His spooky 1968 debut “Gris-Gris” combined rhythm ’n blues with psychedelic rock and startled listeners with its sinister implications of other-worldly magic, employing a piano style both rollicking and haunting. He later had a Top 10 hit with “Right Place, Wrong Time,” collaborated with numerous top-tier rockers, won multiple Grammy awards and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

A white man who found a home among black New Orleans musicians, he first entered the music scene when he accompanied his father, who ran a record shop and also fixed the P.A. systems at New Orleans bars.

As a teenager in the 1950s, he played guitar and keyboards in a string of bands and made the legendary studio of Cosimo Matassa his second home, Rebennack said in his 1994 memoir, “Under a Hoodoo Moon.” He got into music full-time after dropping out of high school, became acquainted with drugs and petty crime and lived a fast-paced life. His gigs ranged from strip clubs to auditoriums, roadhouses and chicken shacks. The ring finger of Rebennack’s left hand was blown off in a shooting incident in 1961 in Jacksonville, Florida.

He blamed Jim Garrison, the JFK conspiracy theorist and a tough-on-crime New Orleans district attorney, for driving him out of his beloved city in the early 1960s. Garrison went after prostitutes, bars and all-night music venues.

The underworld sweep put Rebennack in prison. At that time, he was a respected session musician who had played on classic recordings by R&B mainstays like Professor Longhair and Irma Thomas, but he was also a heroin addict. After his release from federal prison in Fort Worth, Texas, at age 24, Rebennack joined friend and mentor Harold Battiste who had left New Orleans to make music in Los Angeles.

Rebennack, who’d long had a fascination with occult mysticism and voodoo, told Battiste about creating a musical personality out of Dr. John, a male version of Marie Laveau, the voodoo queen.

In his memoir, Rebennack said, he drew inspiration from New Orleans folklore about a root doctor who flourished in the mid-1800s.

Battiste, in a 2005 interview, recalled, “It was really done sort of tongue-in-cheek.”

But Dr. John was born and Rebennack got his first personal recordings done in what became “Gris-Gris,” a 1968 classic of underground American music.

In the years that followed, he played with The Grateful Dead, appeared with The Band in director Martin Scorsese’s “The Last Waltz” documentary, jammed on The Rolling Stones’ “Exile on Main Street” album and collaborated with countless others — among them Earl King, Van Morrison and James Booker.

Also on HuffPost

Peter Mayhew

Actor Peter Mayhew, who played Chewbacca in the "Star Wars" series, died April 30, 2019 at the age of 74.
Actor Peter Mayhew, who played Chewbacca in the "Star Wars" series, died April 30, 2019 at the age of 74.

John Singleton

John Singleton, 51, whose powerful debut film, “Boyz N the Hood,” earned him an Oscar nomination for best director, the first for an African-American, died on April 29, 2019.
John Singleton, 51, whose powerful debut film, “Boyz N the Hood,” earned him an Oscar nomination for best director, the first for an African-American, died on April 29, 2019.

Earl Thomas Conley

Country singer Earl Thomas Conley, known for hit songs including "Holding Her and Loving You," "What I'd Say" and "Right From the Start," died on April 10, 2019. He was 77.
Country singer Earl Thomas Conley, known for hit songs including "Holding Her and Loving You," "What I'd Say" and "Right From the Start," died on April 10, 2019. He was 77.

Seymour Cassel

Character actor Seymour Cassel, who was best known for his frequent collaborations with John Cassavetes and Wes Anderson, died on April 7, 2019. He was 84
Character actor Seymour Cassel, who was best known for his frequent collaborations with John Cassavetes and Wes Anderson, died on April 7, 2019. He was 84

Billy Adams

Rockabilly Hall of Famer Billy Adams, who wrote and recorded the rockabilly staple “Rock, Pretty Mama,” died on March 30, 2019. He was 79.
Rockabilly Hall of Famer Billy Adams, who wrote and recorded the rockabilly staple “Rock, Pretty Mama,” died on March 30, 2019. He was 79.

Nipsey Hussle

Grammy-nominated rapper Nipsey Hussle was shot and killed on March 31, 2019. He was 33.
Grammy-nominated rapper Nipsey Hussle was shot and killed on March 31, 2019. He was 33.

Ranking Roger

Roger Charlery, a.k.a. Ranking Roger, a key member of the ’80s ska band The English Beat and the poppier group General Public, died on March 26, 2019 at the age of 56.
Roger Charlery, a.k.a. Ranking Roger, a key member of the ’80s ska band The English Beat and the poppier group General Public, died on March 26, 2019 at the age of 56.

Dick Dale

Dick Dale, “the King of the Surf Guitar,” died on March 16, 2019 at the age of 81.
Dick Dale, “the King of the Surf Guitar,” died on March 16, 2019 at the age of 81.

Hal Blaine

Drummer Hal Blaine, who propelled dozens of major hit records during the ‘60s and ‘70s as a member of the “Wrecking Crew,” Hollywood’s elite, ubiquitous cadre of first-call studio musicians, died on March 11, 2019. He was 90.
Drummer Hal Blaine, who propelled dozens of major hit records during the ‘60s and ‘70s as a member of the “Wrecking Crew,” Hollywood’s elite, ubiquitous cadre of first-call studio musicians, died on March 11, 2019. He was 90.

Jed Allan

Veteran actor Jed Allan, whose long career in soap operas included stints on “Days of Our Lives,” “Santa Barbara” and “90210,” died on March 9, 2019. He was 84.
Veteran actor Jed Allan, whose long career in soap operas included stints on “Days of Our Lives,” “Santa Barbara” and “90210,” died on March 9, 2019. He was 84.

Luke Perry

Luke Perry, who burst onto the TV scene and countless fan-magazine covers in 1990 as one of the core cast members of the hit show “Beverly Hills, 90210,” then went on to a busy career in television and film that included, most recently, the CW series “Riverdale,” died on March 4, 2019 at the age of 52.
Luke Perry, who burst onto the TV scene and countless fan-magazine covers in 1990 as one of the core cast members of the hit show “Beverly Hills, 90210,” then went on to a busy career in television and film that included, most recently, the CW series “Riverdale,” died on March 4, 2019 at the age of 52.

André Previn

André Previn, 89, a composer of Oscar-winning film music, conductor, pianist and music director of major orchestras, died on February 28, 2019.
André Previn, 89, a composer of Oscar-winning film music, conductor, pianist and music director of major orchestras, died on February 28, 2019.

Katherine Helmond

Katherine Helmond, who received seven Emmy Award nominations for her varied roles in television comedies, including “Soap” and “Who’s the Boss?,” died Feb. 23, 2019. She was 89.
Katherine Helmond, who received seven Emmy Award nominations for her varied roles in television comedies, including “Soap” and “Who’s the Boss?,” died Feb. 23, 2019. She was 89.

Peter Tork

Peter Tork, 77, who became an overnight teenage idol in the 1960s with the Monkees, died on February 21, 2019
Peter Tork, 77, who became an overnight teenage idol in the 1960s with the Monkees, died on February 21, 2019

Bruno Ganz

Bruno Ganz, the Swiss actor who portrayed Adolf Hitler in Oscar-nominated film “Downfall” and the kindly grandfather in “Heidi,” died on Feb. 15, 2019 at the age of 77.
Bruno Ganz, the Swiss actor who portrayed Adolf Hitler in Oscar-nominated film “Downfall” and the kindly grandfather in “Heidi,” died on Feb. 15, 2019 at the age of 77.

Carmen Argenziano

Carmen Argenziano, a veteran actor best known for his roles in “Stargate SG-1” and “The Godfather Part II,” died on Feb. 10, 2019. He was 75.
Carmen Argenziano, a veteran actor best known for his roles in “Stargate SG-1” and “The Godfather Part II,” died on Feb. 10, 2019. He was 75.

Jan-Michael Vincent

Actor Jan-Michael Vincent, who starred on the big screen in the 1970s and in the hit TV series “Airwolf” in the 1980s, died on Feb. 10, 2019.
Actor Jan-Michael Vincent, who starred on the big screen in the 1970s and in the hit TV series “Airwolf” in the 1980s, died on Feb. 10, 2019.

Albert Finney

British actor Albert Finney, 82, who carved an independent path in the theater and in films, portraying Agatha Christie’s detective Hercule Poirot, a Southern lawyer in “Erin Brockovich” and an Irish mob boss in “Miller’s Crossing,” died on Feb. 7, 2019.
British actor Albert Finney, 82, who carved an independent path in the theater and in films, portraying Agatha Christie’s detective Hercule Poirot, a Southern lawyer in “Erin Brockovich” and an Irish mob boss in “Miller’s Crossing,” died on Feb. 7, 2019.

Kristoff St. John

Actor Kristoff St. John, a longtime cast member of the CBS soap opera “Young and the Restless,” died on Feb. 3, 2019. He was 52. 
Actor Kristoff St. John, a longtime cast member of the CBS soap opera “Young and the Restless,” died on Feb. 3, 2019. He was 52. 

Dick Miller

Dick Miller, a prolific screen actor best known for his role as Murray Futterman in the 1984 classic horror film “Gremlins,” died on January 30, 2019. He was 90.
Dick Miller, a prolific screen actor best known for his role as Murray Futterman in the 1984 classic horror film “Gremlins,” died on January 30, 2019. He was 90.

James Ingram

James Ingram, one of the biggest stars in R&B music in the 1980s and ’90s, and a double Grammy winner and two-time Oscar nominee, died on Jan. 29, 2019 at age 66.
James Ingram, one of the biggest stars in R&B music in the 1980s and ’90s, and a double Grammy winner and two-time Oscar nominee, died on Jan. 29, 2019 at age 66.

Michel Legrand

French composer Michel Legrand, 86, who wrote over 200 film and TV scores and won three Academy Awards, died on January 26, 2019.
French composer Michel Legrand, 86, who wrote over 200 film and TV scores and won three Academy Awards, died on January 26, 2019.

Kevin Barnett

Comedian/screenwriter Kevin Barnett, who co-created the Fox series "Rel" and wrote for "Broad City," died on Jan. 22, 2019. He was 32.
Comedian/screenwriter Kevin Barnett, who co-created the Fox series "Rel" and wrote for "Broad City," died on Jan. 22, 2019. He was 32.

Carol Channing

Actress Carol Channing, whose incandescent performances as the gold-digging Lorelei Lee in “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” and the matchmaker Dolly Gallagher Levi in “Hello, Dolly!” made her a Broadway legend, died on Jan. 15, 2019. She was 97.
Actress Carol Channing, whose incandescent performances as the gold-digging Lorelei Lee in “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” and the matchmaker Dolly Gallagher Levi in “Hello, Dolly!” made her a Broadway legend, died on Jan. 15, 2019. She was 97.

“Mean” Gene Okerlund

World Wrestling Entertainment Hall of Fame announcer “Mean” Gene Okerlund died on Jan. 2, 2019 at the age of 76.
World Wrestling Entertainment Hall of Fame announcer “Mean” Gene Okerlund died on Jan. 2, 2019 at the age of 76.

Daryl Dragon

Singer and pianist Daryl Dragon, left, who was best known as “The Captain” of 1970s soft rock duo Captain and Tennille, died on Jan. 2, 2019 at 76.
Singer and pianist Daryl Dragon, left, who was best known as “The Captain” of 1970s soft rock duo Captain and Tennille, died on Jan. 2, 2019 at 76.

Bob Einstein

Actor Bob Einstein, who played Marty Funkhouser on HBO’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” died on Jan. 2, 2019 at 76.
Actor Bob Einstein, who played Marty Funkhouser on HBO’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” died on Jan. 2, 2019 at 76.

Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.