Dr John, the American jazz musician who delighted fans for decades with his legendary piano riffs and unmistakable hoarse voice, died Thursday, his family said. The New Orleans blues pianist, whose real name Malcolm John Rebennack was shortened to "Mac" by his friends, suffered a heart attack "towards the break of day", according to a statement on his official Twitter account. The jiving talking "psychedelic godfather" - who inspired Dr Teeth, the band leader in "The Muppets" - was 77.
A musical monument in the mould of fellow New Orleans greats Fats Domino and Allen Toussaint, he played with everyone from the Rolling Stones to Aretha Franklin, Bob Dylan, Phil Spector, Sonny & Cher and Van Morrison. Former Beatle Ringo Starr was among the first major stars to react to his death, tweeting, "God bless Dr John peace and love to all his family I love the doctor."
Dr John's talents defied genre, as he played everything from blues and pop to jazz, boogie woogie and rock-and-roll. A hugely colourful character known for his trademark gravelly voice and statement hats, he brought psychedelic rock to Louisiana's Big Easy in the 1960s and then introduced the city to funk in the 1970s.
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