Remembering Dr. John: A Career Of Collaborations Spotify Playlist

Legendary musician Dr. John passed away this week at the age of 77. Born Malcolm Rebennack in New Orleans on November 20, 1941, he personified the melting-pot nature of his native city in the eclectic sounds he made and colorful wardrobe he donned.

Mac was a well-respected and prominent figure in the New Orleans music scene, formulating a cool, funky and jazzy style that became his signature. Starting as a guitarist before an early-career switch to focus on piano, Dr. John collaborated with many of the world’s most renowned musicians through the past 50+ years. This edition of Saturday Stream presents several of those memorable collaborations Mac was part of during his remarkable career.

The Spotify Playlist of Dr. John collaborations includes selections from his albums recorded with NOLA legends, the late Allen Toussaint and The Meters, as well as a track from 1971’s The Sun, Moon & Herbs, an album that was recorded with Eric Clapton, Bobby Keys, The Memphis Horns, Mick Jagger and others. Mac is also featured on tracks recorded by Canned Heat, Aretha Franklin, B.B. King, Harry Nillson, Buddy Guy & Junior Wells, Taj Mahal, Joe Cocker, Wille Nelson, Bonnie Raitt, John Scofield, Jimmy Smith, Jimmie Vaughn, Johnny Winter and others, including the recently departed Leon Redbone.

Fellow New Orleans icons, such as Mac’s idol Professor Longhair, as well as Donald Harrison, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Cyril Neville, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Nicholas Payton and more. Other tracks feature live collabs with Warren Haynes, Derek Trucks, Susan Tedeschi, Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Ray Vaughn and Dr. John’s performance of “Such A Night” from The Band’s famed The Last Waltz concert. Revisit many of Dr. John’s collaborations in the Spotify Playlist below: