Tickling The Ivories with Deacon John Moore
He’s Just As Frisky As Ever
Deacon John’s mother wanted him to be a singer, but she hated rock ‘n roll.
Oh well.
Mrs. Moore’s little boy picked up a guitar, and it wasn’t long before rock ‘n roll came tumbling out. His bandmates named him Deacon John. But he also recorded at least one song under the name Johnny Moore. Deacon John’s early recordings were high energy and danceable, just like his stage show. But “You Don’t Know How (To Turn Me On)” and “Haven’t I Been Good To You,” signaled only a fragment of what the Deacon could do.
But Deacon John’s biggest imprint on music is as a sideman. His guitar figures on a long list of hit records made in New Orleans and heard around the world, including Lee Dorsey’s “Working in a Coal Mine” Robert Parker’s “Barefootin’,” Aaron Neville’s “Tell it Like It Is” and Irma Thomas’ “Ruler of My Heart.”
Much of Deacon John’s session work was with the great songwriter, producer and arranger Allen Toussaint.
“When I see Allen Toussaint now, I can’t thank him enough.” Deacon John tells Music Inside Out. “… I’ll be forever grateful to (him) for making me a part of the indigenous culture.”
Deacon John’s career spans six decades and tells a unique story of the evolution of popular music. Mrs. Moore’s little boy may not be an actual church deacon, but he makes turning on the radio a blessed event.
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