Rebennack was raised in a musically inclined family. His father ran an appliance shop that also sold records, exposing Malcolm to a rich catalog of early jazz influences, including legends like Louis Armstrong and King Oliver. Family gatherings often turned into jam sessions with various relatives playing instruments, especially the piano. This environment fueled his early interest in music.

As a child, his mother briefly worked as a model, and Malcolm even appeared as a baby on Ivory Soap advertisements due to her industry connections. Rebennack also joined the church choir during his youth but was dismissed for disciplinary reasons. Despite early setbacks, his passion for music persisted. Through his father’s connections, he began frequenting Cosimo Matassa’s J&M Studio, observing the recording sessions of iconic New Orleans musicians and developing his sound and style.

Rise as a Soulful Singer-Songwriter

By his teenage years, Dr. John was working with influential local performers such as Jesse Hill, Papoose, and Alvin Robinson. Immersed in New Orleans’ cultural tapestry, he learned about Creole traditions, voodoo symbolism, and rhythm & blues, which became essential elements of his later persona and music.

Dr. John became involved with Harold Battiste and Melvin Lastie, co-founders of the All For One (AFO) Records label, where he performed studio work and solidified his reputation as a skilled session musician. After a shooting injury to his finger forced him to shift focus from guitar to piano, he continued contributing to recordings and playing gigs throughout the early 1960s.

Following legal troubles and declining opportunities in New Orleans, Dr. John relocated to Los Angeles. There, he collaborated with a wide range of artists, including Frank Zappa and the Allman Brothers. Reuniting with Battiste, then working with Sonny Bono, Dr. John developed his alter ego “Dr. John Creaux the Night Tripper.” Originally conceived as a shared project with fellow musician Ronnie Barron, the persona became exclusively Rebennack’s when Barron withdrew. Released in 1968, the debut album Gris-Gris introduced the public to Dr. John's mystical stage presence and groundbreaking musical fusion.