John Sebastian
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- For the similarly named Mexican pop singer see Joan Sebastian.
John Besson Sebastian (born March 17, 1944) is an American songwriter and harmonica player. He is best known as a founder of The Lovin' Spoonful, a band named to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. His tie-dyed denim jacket is prominently displayed there.
John B. Sebastian Jr. was born in Greenwich Village in New York City. His father, also named John Sebastian, was a noted classical harmonica player and his mother was a radio script writer. He grew up surrounded by music and musicians, including Burl Ives and Woody Guthrie and hearing such players as Leadbelly and Mississippi John Hurt in his own neighborhood.
One of his first recording gigs was playing harmonica for Fred Neil on his Bleecker & MacDougal album from 1965. He came up through the Even Dozen Jug Band and The Mugwumps, which split to form the Lovin' Spoonful and the Mamas and Papas. Sebastian was joined by Zal Yanovsky, Steve Boone and popular drummer-vocalist Joseph Campbell Butler in the Spoonful, which was named after a Mississippi John Hurt song.
The Lovin' Spoonful became part of the American response to the British Invasion and was noted for such folk-flavored hits as "Jug Band Music," "Do You Believe in Magic," "Summer in the City," "Daydream," "Nashville Cats," "Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind," "Six O'Clock," and "Younger Girl."
Sebastian embarked on a moderately successful solo career after leaving the Lovin' Spoonful in 1968. Sebastian was popular among the rock festival circuits. He had a memorable, albeit unscheduled appearance at Woodstock, appearing after Country Joe McDonald's set, playing songs such as I Had A Dream and Rainbows All Over You Blues which he dedicated to someone who had a child during the festival. Sebastian also returned for Woodstock '94, playing harmonica for Crosby, Stills and Nash. Sebastian released his eponymous LP "John B. Sebastian" in 1970.
In 1976, Sebastian had a number one single with the theme song to the Welcome Back, Kotter television show, which found new life decades later when a sample from it became the hook for rapper Mase's 2004 hit "Welcome Back". Recently, he has played with John Sebastian and the J-Band, a jug band including Fritz Richmond from the Jim Kweskin Jug Band, Yank Rachell, an original jug-band leader, and Geoff Muldaur.
Several modern musicians cite him as a large influence, including renowned blues harmonica player, Mike Tetrault. As a songwriter, Sebastian's songs have been coverd by Dolly Parton, Helen Reddy, Brenda Lee, Johnny Cash, Bobby Darin, Slade and Joe Cocker.
In later years, Sebastian hosted several television programs regarding '60's music, including infomercials for compilations sets, and a half-hour program called The Golden Age of Rock and Roll, which was usually a video footage of various 1960's bands performing on various variety shows.
Sebastian played harmonica on The Doors album Morrison Hotel and on "Little Red Rooster" on the live album The Doors In Concert.
