The national media spotlight doesn't shine on New Orleans much anymore, but Mac Rebennack, known as Dr. John, does what he can to make sure people still remember his hometown four years after Hurricane Katrina's destruction.
"It's been years after Katrina and Rita and not a lot has been done. People don't even realize over 50 percent of the population of New Orleans is not there. I see people on the road everywhere we go that want to go home, but there's nowhere to go home to, and it just don't seem right. If this happened in any other city, something would have been done," said the 68-year-old New Orleans native during a phone interview earlier this month.
The devastation of New Orleans had a profound effect on Dr. John, and he has done some admirable things to bring some normalcy back to the city, according to Jeff Beninato, co-founder of the New Orleans Musician's Relief Fund.
"His presence can make ailing friends and family members forget their troubles just a bit. We visited a friend who was having a tough time paying for his medication, and through Mac's generosity he forfeited his expenses from a show used to help many musicians," Beninato said. "The New Orleans Musician's Relief Fund has a great debt of gratitude to Dr. John for his unselfishness as an ambassador for the music of our city."
Dr. John is a singer, songwriter and pianist whose music combines blues, boogie woogie and rock 'n' roll. He is universally celebrated as the living embodiment of the rich musical heritage exclusive to New Orleans. He performs Aug. 25 at the Keswick Theatre in Glenside, Pa.
When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, Dr. John believes he was in Minnesota on a gig.
"I told my kids and my grandkids to get the hell out ... I was scared for them all. I was scared, and I had no idea it would get worse than what my fears were," Dr. John said.
Since Hurricane Katrina hit, "City That Care Forgot" is the second New Orleans-related CD released by Dr. John. "Sippiana Hericane" came first in November 2005, which was a benefit for the New Orleans Musicians Clinic, the Jazz Foundation of America and the Voice of the Wetlands. It contained three songs, "Clean Water" and its reprise, "Sweet Home New Orleans" and the four-part "Wade: Hurricane Suite."
"City That Care Forgot" features guest stars including Eric Clapton, Ani DiFranco and Willie Nelson. Some of the songs are rather political in nature, with titles such as "Save Our Wetlands." The CD offers songs expressing rage and anger along with hope.
"I think the last record, 'City That Care Forgot,' is important," Dr. John said. "It's about saving New Orleans."
Clapton and DiFranco offered to do the record before recording even started, Dr. John said.
"Eric offered to do one or two songs. He wound up doing three or four songs. It was, like, really cool. I had no idea at the time what Ani was going to do. I gave her the tapes. She and Eric both did something on the same tune, 'City That Care Forgot.' Ani was playing guitar. Eric was playing guitar, and Ani was singing. It was really hip," Dr. John said.
"City That Care Forgot," released in June 2008, won the Grammy Award for best contemporary blues album last year.
Two of the members of Dr. John's The Lower 911 band that backed him on the album - guitarist John Fohl and bassist David Barard - will accompany him for his co-headlining show with the Neville Brothers at the Keswick Theatre. The same double bill of Dr. John and the Neville Brothers entertained Feb. 21 at the House of Blues Atlantic City in the Showboat Casino-Hotel.
"If anybody is coming, I can promise them a good, funky time," Dr. John said.
E-mail Vincent Jackson:
In Concert
Dr. John & The Lower 911,
the Neville Brothers and
the Mardi Gras Mambo
7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Keswick Theatre, Glenside, Pa. Tickets, priced at $39.50, $49.50, are available through Ticketmaster at 800-736-1420 or www.ticketmaster.com
