John Sebastian: Difference between revisions
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* [http://www.geocities.com/johnsebastianfiles/reillythe4ofus.html Peter Reilly's review of ''The Four of Us''] |
* [http://www.geocities.com/johnsebastianfiles/reillythe4ofus.html Peter Reilly's review of ''The Four of Us''] |
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* [http://www.chasingusghost.com Chasin' Gus' Chost jug band documentary] |
* [http://www.chasingusghost.com Chasin' Gus' Chost jug band documentary] |
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*[http://www.tonebee.com/Ringtone_Maker-John_Sebastian-mp3_ringtones_artist_3607.html Videos, Pictures & Articles related to John Sebastian] |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Sebastian, John}} |
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Revision as of 15:00, 25 September 2007
- For the similarly named Mexican pop singer see Joan Sebastian.
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John Sebastian (born John Benson Sebastian, 17 March 1944, in Greenwich Village, New York) is an American songwriter and harmonica player. He is best known as a founder of The Lovin' Spoonful, a band named in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. His tie-dyed denim jacket is prominently displayed there.
Life and career
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 in 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." The band, however, began to implode after a 1966 marijuana bust in San Francisco involving Yanovsky, a Canadian citizen. Facing deportion, he gave up the name of his dealer, which caused a fan backlash and internal strife. Neither John Sebastian nor Joe Butler were involved in the matter - weren't even in San Francisco at the time.
Yanovsky left, replaced by Jerry Yester in 1967. Sebastian remained in the band but departed in 1968. He and the original band reunited to appear in the film One Trick Pony starring Paul Simon and Blair Brown.
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," "Rainbows All Over You Blues" and "Younger Generation" which he dedicated to a newborn baby at 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, which featured him accompanied by various L.A. musicians.
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 covered by Elvis Costello ("The Room Nobody Lives In"), Dolly Parton, Del McCoury, Helen Reddy, Brenda Lee, Johnny Cash, Bobby Darin, Slade, Joe Cocker and Jimmy Buffett ("The Stories We Can Tell").
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. He also hosted a Spoonful retrospective broadcast over PBS in March, 2007, talking about various Spoonful numbers in between vintage video clips of the band up to the time he left.
Sebastian and the J Band appear in the documentary about the roots and influence of jug band music, Chasin' Gus' Chost, which premieres in August 2007 at the San Francisco Jug Band Festival. In the film, Sebastian humorously explains, with musical accompaniment, how his hit song "Younger Girl" was inspired by Gus Cannon's "Prison Wall Blues." He will also perform at the festival with other musicians featured in the film, including Geoff Muldaur, Jim Kweskin and David Grisman.
Sebastian played harmonica with The Doors on the song Roadhouse Blues under another name to avoid problems with his contract, which was featured on Morrison Hotel album, also played on "Little Red Rooster" on the live album Alive, She Cried and on seven songs on Live In Detroit. He is also credited with playing harmonica on Crosby Stills Nash & Young's "Déjà Vu" from the album of the same name.
Solo Discography
Original U.S. Singles
| Release Year | Label/Catalog # | Titles (A-side / B-side) | Billboard Top Singles | Cashbox |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Kama Sutra KA-256 | She's A Lady / The Room Nobody Lives In | ||
| 1970 | Reprise 0902 | Magical Connection / Fa-Fana-Fa | ||
| 1970 | Reprise 0918 | What She Thinks About / Red Eye Express | ||
| 1970 | MGM 14122 | Rainbows All Over Your Blues / You're A Big Boy Now | ||
| 1971 | Reprise 1026 | I Don't Want Nobody Else / Sweet Muse | ||
| 1971 | Reprise 1050 | Well Well Well / We'll See | ||
| 1972 | Reprise 1074 | Give Us A Break / Music For People Who Don't Speak English | ||
| 1976 | Reprise 1349 | Welcome Back / Warm Baby | ||
| 1976 | Reprise 1355 | Hideaway / One Step Forward, Two Steps Back |
Original U.S. Vinyl Albums
| Release Year | Label/Catalog # | Album Title | Billboard Album Chart |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Reprise RS 6379 | John B. Sebastian | |
| 1970 | MGM SE-4654 | John B. Sebastian | |
| 1970 | MGM SE-4720 | Live | |
| 1971 | Reprise MS 2036 | Cheapo Cheapo Productions Presents Real Live John Sebastian | |
| 1971 | Reprise MS 2041 | The Four of Us | |
| 1974 | Reprise MS 2187 | Tarzana Kid | |
| 1976 | Reprise MS 2249 | Welcome Back |
Misc Album Releases
- 1982 Blues Harmonica Homespun Tapes
- 1993 Tar Beach Shanachie
- 1995 John Sebastian Line
- 1996 I Want My Roots Music Masters
- 1996 King Biscuit Flower Hour [live] King Biscuit Flower
- 1996 John Sebastian Teaches Beginning Blues Harmonica Homespun Tapes
- 1999 Chasin' Gus' Ghost Hollywood
- 2001 One Guy, One Guitar [live] Hux
Samples
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