Six-time Grammy winner Dr. John will release one final record, according to a report in Rolling Stone. Completed last year prior to his death, the unreleased album is rooted in traditional country music and will feature performances by Willie Nelson, Aaron Neville, and Rickie Lee Jones. "The lyrical content" is country, keyboardist David Torkanowsky, told Rolling Stone, "but it was completely Rebennack'ed out."
As Dr. John's health declined, a studio was set up in his home so he could finish the album, not unlike Johnny Cash's American Recordings. "Mac's work ethic, he was old school; he grew up doing five sets a night. And so he told me on several occasions, he would say, "Whatever we gotta do, we gotta do it. We gotta get it done, Sha-zane," according to producer Shane Theriot.
The album will include new originals, reworked Dr. John classics, as well as several country covers. "As this record took shape, it wasn't intentional, but the common thread is that the songs all deal with time and looking back. When you hear Mac sing, it's somebody that's lived a really full life. He sounds great, but he sounds exposed," said Theriot.
Further details, such as the title and release date are not known at this time.
New Orleans native Malcolm John Rebennack Jr., better known by his stage name Dr. John, died last week at the age of 77.