Dr. John proudly stands along side of Louis Armstrong and Fats Domino as one of New Orleans ' all-time distinctive voices. Both his unique musical approach and his striking physical appearance encompass local African, American-Indian and Creole influences mixed in with quite a few equally exotic tributaries besides. He's both the essence of the city's colorful past and its ever evolving future and, beyond.

Dr. John’s latest release, 2001’s Creole Moon, contains 14 tracks soaked with boogaloo, five of which Dr. John co-wrote with the recently deceased Doc Pomus, one-half of the legendary songwriting team Pomus & Shuman.

The New Orleans legend started his career in the 1960s. In 1968, ' hitmakers, Sonny & Cher 's commercial blend of The Byrds' jingly-jangly folk rock and Phil Spector's bombastic kitchen-sink-and-all “Wall Of Sound” had, despite their appalling dress sense, momentarily made them the hottest act in town. And, Dr. John – then still known under his given name of Mac Rebennack – was part of the twosome's backing band.

Dr. John moved to L.A. for a short time to grow his budding career, but soon headed homewards for his Louisiana bayou blues juice. What emerged, in 1968, festooned in Mardi-Gras Indian feathered head-dress and long colorful robes was Dr. John Creaux - The Night Tripper, a swampy cure-all psychedelic medicine man uttering “Gris-Gris” incantations. Dr. John was a hit, spurring legends such as Eric Clapton and Mick Jagger to guest on his records and artists as diverse as The Band, Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, Mike Bloomfield plus jazz stars Bennie Wallace and Art Blakey to invite him to spice up their own work.

Dr. John further broadened his appeal when, in 1989, he grabbed a Grammy for a moody duet with Rickie Lee Jones of ‘Makin' Whoopee' and again, in 1992, with his album Goin' Back To New Orleans.

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