Dr. John (born Malcolm John Rebennack on 20 November 1941; died 6 June 2019… Read Full Bio ↴Dr. John (born Malcolm John Rebennack on 20 November 1941; died 6 June 2019) was an American singer, pianist, guitarist, and songwriter whose music combined blues, boogie woogie and rock and roll. The winner of six Grammy awards, Rebennack was inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by singer John Legend on Monday, March 14, 2011. He was variously known as Mac Rebennack, Dr. John Creaux, Dr. John, the Night Tripper.
Dr. John began making his own idiosyncratic music in the 1960s. Along with Professor Longhair, Dr. John is heir to the rich New Orleans tradition. He is perhaps best known for "Right Place, Wrong Time", an international hit in 1973, reissued and used on soundtracks many times since.
Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, his professional musical career began as a session musician in New Orleans in the 1950s. Early on he also played guitar and was often known as Mac Rebennack. He switched to the bass ("the lowest time of my life"), and then the piano after his index finger was nearly shot off protecting his bandmate and longtime friend Ronnie Barron. He gained fame beginning in the late 1960s and early 1970s, with music that combined New Orleans-style rhythm and blues with psychedelic rock and stage shows that bordered on voodoo religious ceremonies, including elaborate costumes and headdress. For a time he was billed as Dr. John, The Night Tripper. The name "Dr. John" came from a legendary Louisiana voodoo practitioner from the start of the 19th century.
Dr. John has also done vocals for Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits' "Luv dat chicken..." jingle, as well as the theme song ("My Opinionation") for the early-1990s television sitcom Blossom. His movie credits include Martin Scorsese's documentary The Last Waltz (in which he joins The Band for a performance of his song "Such a Night") and Blues Brothers 2000 (in which he joins the fictional band The Louisiana Gator Boys to perform the song "New Orleans"). In the 2009 Disney film The Princess and the Frog, Dr. John sings the opening tune, "Down in New Orleans".
In January 2008 Mac Rebennack, Dr. John, was inducted into The Louisiana Music Hall Of Fame.
Dr. John began making his own idiosyncratic music in the 1960s. Along with Professor Longhair, Dr. John is heir to the rich New Orleans tradition. He is perhaps best known for "Right Place, Wrong Time", an international hit in 1973, reissued and used on soundtracks many times since.
Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, his professional musical career began as a session musician in New Orleans in the 1950s. Early on he also played guitar and was often known as Mac Rebennack. He switched to the bass ("the lowest time of my life"), and then the piano after his index finger was nearly shot off protecting his bandmate and longtime friend Ronnie Barron. He gained fame beginning in the late 1960s and early 1970s, with music that combined New Orleans-style rhythm and blues with psychedelic rock and stage shows that bordered on voodoo religious ceremonies, including elaborate costumes and headdress. For a time he was billed as Dr. John, The Night Tripper. The name "Dr. John" came from a legendary Louisiana voodoo practitioner from the start of the 19th century.
Dr. John has also done vocals for Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits' "Luv dat chicken..." jingle, as well as the theme song ("My Opinionation") for the early-1990s television sitcom Blossom. His movie credits include Martin Scorsese's documentary The Last Waltz (in which he joins The Band for a performance of his song "Such a Night") and Blues Brothers 2000 (in which he joins the fictional band The Louisiana Gator Boys to perform the song "New Orleans"). In the 2009 Disney film The Princess and the Frog, Dr. John sings the opening tune, "Down in New Orleans".
In January 2008 Mac Rebennack, Dr. John, was inducted into The Louisiana Music Hall Of Fame.
Life's a Happy Song
Dr. John Lyrics
When I was a little boy, mama gave me a real good toy
It was an old six sting guitar, from a time way back when
Well I practiced and played and I did my best
I knew someday I was gonna pass the test
Well the music was running through my soul
I'm going play it till I get old
When I met Billy ya we knew right from the start
When we played that music we played right from the heart
And all our friends ya they would always used to sing along
They all told me, don't you ever stop singing your songs
We were singing our songs of life
We were living those songs of life
We were singing living and living those songs of life
We were singing those songs of life
Cause we were living those songs of life
We were singing living and living those songs of life
Well there've been a few women, most we had to part
But I've got 4 beautiful children, there ever close to my heart
Sometimes my boys come down and see me sing and play
I know I'm going see one of my boys up on that stage one day
He'll be singing his songs of life
He'll be living his songs of life
He'll be living and singing his songs of life
He'll be singing his songs of life
He'll be living his songs of life
He'll be living and singing his songs of life
Now I'm getting older and I'm changing my rebel ways
I know I'm going to sing and play this guitar until my dying day
Let me tell all you young musicians all you girls and boys
If you've got the gift of music you're going to fill that life with joy
Keep singing your songs of life
Keep living your songs of life
Keep living and singing your songs of life
Keep singing your songs of life
Keep living those songs of life
Keep living and singing your songs of life
Well old musicians they never die
They just tune down and fade away
Keep singing their songs of life
Keep living their songs of life
Keep living and singing their songs of life
Keep singing their songs of life
You got to live their songs of life
Keep living and singing their songs of life
Singing their songs of life
Singing their songs of life
It was an old six sting guitar, from a time way back when
Well I practiced and played and I did my best
I knew someday I was gonna pass the test
Well the music was running through my soul
I'm going play it till I get old
When I met Billy ya we knew right from the start
When we played that music we played right from the heart
And all our friends ya they would always used to sing along
They all told me, don't you ever stop singing your songs
We were living those songs of life
We were singing living and living those songs of life
We were singing those songs of life
Cause we were living those songs of life
We were singing living and living those songs of life
Well there've been a few women, most we had to part
But I've got 4 beautiful children, there ever close to my heart
Sometimes my boys come down and see me sing and play
I know I'm going see one of my boys up on that stage one day
He'll be singing his songs of life
He'll be living his songs of life
He'll be living and singing his songs of life
He'll be singing his songs of life
He'll be living his songs of life
He'll be living and singing his songs of life
Now I'm getting older and I'm changing my rebel ways
I know I'm going to sing and play this guitar until my dying day
Let me tell all you young musicians all you girls and boys
If you've got the gift of music you're going to fill that life with joy
Keep singing your songs of life
Keep living your songs of life
Keep living and singing your songs of life
Keep singing your songs of life
Keep living those songs of life
Keep living and singing your songs of life
Well old musicians they never die
They just tune down and fade away
Keep singing their songs of life
Keep living their songs of life
Keep living and singing their songs of life
Keep singing their songs of life
You got to live their songs of life
Keep living and singing their songs of life
Singing their songs of life
Singing their songs of life
Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: John Wright
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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