Dr. John to open Grand season Friday night

The Grand Opera House of the South will kick off its 2014-15 season this Friday night when Dr. John and the Nite Trippers take over the stage.

Malcolm John “Mac” Rebennack Jr., born in New Orleans on Nov. 21, 1940, better known by the stage name Dr. John (or Dr. John and the Night Trippers), is an American singer-songwriter, pianist and guitarist whose music combines blues, pop and jazz as well as zydeco, boogie woogie and rock and roll.

Active as a session musician since the late 1950s, he gained a cult following in the late 1960s following the release of his album “Gris-Gris” and his appearance at the Bath Festival of Blues and Progressive Music.

Dr. John has recorded over 20 albums, and in 1973 scored a Billboard Top-20 hit with the jaunty funk-flavored “Right Place Wrong Time,” still perhaps his best-known song.

The winner of six Grammy Awards, Dr. John was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by singer John Legend on March 14, 2011.

 In May 2013, he was the recipient of an honorary doctorate of fine arts from Tulane University. He was jokingly referred to by Tulane’s president, Scott Cowen, as “Dr. Dr. John.”

Dr. John’s latest album, “Ske-Dat-De-Dat: The Spirit of Satch,” a tribute to Louis Armstrong, was released in August to great critical acclaim.

According to Dr. John, Satchmo appeared to him in a dream, telling “Gambit Weekly” “Louis came to me in a dream and told me to do his music but do it my way.”

“This next record is going to be one funky-butt tribute to Louis Armstrong,” said Dr. John.

The album includes 13 songs made famous by Armstrong, with guest artists such as the McCrary Sisters, Bonnie Raitt, Anthony Hamilton, Shemekia Copeland, Arturo Sandoval, the Blind Boys of Alabama and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band.

Additionally, in conjunction with the pre-show reception, local author Ann Mire will be on hand to sign her new book, “Images of America: Crowley,” from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The Grand is located at 505 N. Parkerson in Crowley.

For more information, call (337) 785-0440. Tickets are available online at http://thegrandoperahouse.org/. They may also be purchased on Facebook.