Short Takes : Dr. John Prescribes New Orleans

Singer-keyboardist Dr. John and the New Orleans music he treasures are gaining new audiences after their popularity waned since the 1970s.

“It’s doing great with the Neville Brothers, Wynton and Branford Marsalis, Harry Connick Jr. and the Dirty Dozen Band,” Dr. John said. New Orleans is “still its own original place.”

Although he had two hits in the early 1970s--”Right Place, Wrong Time” and “Such a Night”--he decided to lay low after being dropped by two record companies.

Dr. John, born Mac Rebennack as the son of a New Orleans record store owner, saw his “In a Sentimental Mood” album snare a Grammy for a duet with singer Rickie Lee Jones on “Makin’ Whoopee.”