Wednesday, April 18, 2007

DR. JOHN TO BE INDUCTED INTO BLUES HALL OF FAME

On Wednesday, May 9, in Memphis, Tennessee, The Blues Foundation's Hall of Fame committee will honor Blue Note/EMI recording artist and Blues legend Malcolm John "Mac" Rebennack Jr., famously known as Dr. John, as an inductee into the Blues Hall of Fame. Other 2007 Inductees include Dave Bartholomew and late artists, Eddie "Guitar Slim" Jones and Sister Rosetta Tharpe. Non-performer inductees are Ahmet Ertegun and Art Rupe.

Beginning his career as a sideman in his home town of New Orleans, Dr. John quickly developed his own musical voice based on the Jazz, Blues, and Rock music of the Louisiana Delta. As the infamous character Dr. John the Night Tripper, Mac achieved breakthrough success with his 1968 album Gris Gris. Dr. John went on to record more than 30 albums and work with similar legends including B.B. King, Buddy Guy and Junior Wells, Big Joe Turner and Aretha Franklin, solidifying his place as a New Orleans Blues icon. Blue Note Records released his most recent album Mercernary in 2006.

Dr. John has also become one of the leading spokesmen for the New Orleans region after hurricane Katrina struck in 2005. Immediately following the storm, Dr. John recorded a seven-track EP dedicated to the Crescent City, Sippiana Hericane. All the proceeds from the CD's sales were divided equally between the New Orleans Musicians Clinic, the Jazz Foundation of America and the Voice of the Wetlands.

The Blues Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be conducted in association with The Blues Foundation's Charity Member Dinner, Wednesday, May 9 in Memphis, Tennessee, the night before the 2007 Blues Music Awards.
 

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