View source for John Sebastian

{{Short description|American singer-songwriter and musician (born 1944)}}
{{about|the musician|his debut solo album|John B. Sebastian (album)|his father, the classical harmonica player and composer|John Sebastian (classical harmonica player)|the similarly named Mexican pop singer|Joan Sebastian}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox musical artist  <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians -->
| name              = John Sebastian
| image             = John Sebastian in 1971 (cropped).png
| caption           = Sebastian in 1971
| background        = solo_singer
| birth_name        = John Benson Sebastian
| alias             = Giovanni Pugliese
| birth_date        = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1944|3|17}}
| birth_place       = [[New York City]], U.S.
| instrument        = {{hlist|Vocals|guitar|harmonica|autoharp}}
| genre             = {{hlist|[[Rock music|Rock]]|[[Pop music|pop]]|[[Folk music|folk]]|[[Blues music|blues]]}}
| occupation        = {{hlist|Singer|musician|songwriter}}
| years_active      = 1964–present
| label             = {{hlist|[[Kama Sutra Records|Kama Sutra]]|[[Reprise Records|Reprise]]}}
| past_member_of    = {{hlist|[[The Lovin' Spoonful]]|[[Even Dozen Jug Band]]|[[The Mugwumps (band)|The Mugwumps]]}}
| website           = {{URL|johnbsebastian.com/}}
}}

'''John Benson Sebastian''' (born March 17, 1944)<ref>{{Cite web |title=John Sebastian Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & M... |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/john-sebastian-mn0000814852 |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=AllMusic |language=en}}</ref> is an American singer, songwriter and musician who founded the rock band [[the Lovin' Spoonful]] in 1964 with [[Zal Yanovsky]]. During his time in the Lovin Spoonful, Sebastian wrote and sang some of the band's biggest hits such as "[[Do You Believe in Magic (song)|Do You Believe in Magic]]", “[[Summer in the City (song)|Summer in the City]]”, "[[Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind?|Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind]]", and "[[Daydream (The Lovin' Spoonful song)|Daydream]]". Sebastian left the Spoonful after the 1968 album ''[[Everything Playing]]'' to focus on a solo career, releasing  ''[[John B. Sebastian (album)|John B. Sebastian]]'' in 1970.

He made an impromptu appearance at the [[Woodstock|Woodstock festival]] in 1969<ref name="RRHOF">[http://www.rockhall.com/inductees/lovin-spoonful/ Rock & Roll Hall of Fame – Lovin' Spoonful Biography] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110810093457/http://rockhall.com/inductees/lovin-spoonful/ |date=August 10, 2011 }}, rockhall.com. Retrieved June 4, 2015.</ref> and scored a U.S. No. 1 hit in 1976 with "[[Welcome Back (John Sebastian song)|Welcome Back]]", which was used as the theme song on the sitcom ''[[Welcome Back, Kotter]]''.

Sebastian was inducted into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] in 2000 as a member of the Lovin' Spoonful.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lovin' Spoonful |url=https://rockhall.com/inductees/lovin-spoonful/ |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=Rock & Roll Hall of Fame |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Early life==
[[File:29 Washington Square West, New York, NY.jpg|thumb|upright=0.8|Sebastian grew up at 29 Washington Square West (''pictured 2025''), an apartment building in [[Greenwich Village]], New York, which overlooks [[Washington Square Park]].{{sfn|Barone|2022|p=86}}]]

Sebastian was born in [[New York City]] and grew up in [[Little Italy, Manhattan|Little Italy]] and [[Greenwich Village]].<ref name=clemente>{{cite web |last=Clemente |first=T.J. |url=https://www.hamptons.com/The-Arts/Live-Music-View/25656/INTERVIEW-John-Sebastian-A-Cog-In-The-Wheel-Of.html#.XVle_uhKhPY |title=John Sebastian: A Cog in the Wheel of the Greatest Musical Cultural Sea Change Known to Man |date=June 24, 2019 |publisher=Hamptons.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190818143122/https://www.hamptons.com/The-Arts/Live-Music-View/25656/INTERVIEW-John-Sebastian-A-Cog-In-The-Wheel-Of.html |archive-date=August 18, 2019 |url-status=live |access-date=August 18, 2019}}</ref><ref name=hall>{{cite web |last=Hall |first=Johanna |url=http://www.johannahall.us/sebastian.pdf |title=The Spellbinding and Comfortable John B. Sebastian |publisher=johannahall.us|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820113942/http://www.johannahall.us/sebastian.pdf |archive-date=August 20, 2016 |url-status=live |access-date=August 18, 2019}}</ref> His father, [[John Sebastian (classical harmonica player)|John Sebastian]] ({{né}} John Sebastian Pugliese), was a noted [[harmonica|classical harmonica]] player, and his mother, Jane (born Mary Jane Bishir), was a radio script writer.<ref name=echoes>March, Jeff, and Marti Childs. [https://books.google.com/books?id=qwOyZukEwD4C&pg=PT375 ''Echoes of the Sixties: Intimate Profiles of 43 of the Musical Composers and Performers Who Influenced an Entire Generation.''] Billboard Books, 1999, p. 375–379; {{ISBN|0-8230-8316-0}}</ref> His godmother was [[Vivian Vance]] ("Ethel Mertz" of ''[[I Love Lucy]]''), who was a close friend of his mother.<ref>Office of the State Historian (New Mexico), [http://newmexicohistory.org/people/vivian-vance "Vivian Vance"], newmexicohistory.org. Retrieved June 3, 2015.</ref> His godfather and first babysitter was children's book illustrator [[Garth Williams]], a friend of his father.<ref name=boehme>Boehme, Mike, [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-04-02-ca-18326-story.html "Payoff Time for John Sebastian: Pop Music: The Former Lovin' Spoonful Leader, at the Coach House Tonight, Hasn't Had a Record Since 1976, But Not For Want of Trying"], ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', latimes.com, April 2, 1993.</ref> [[Eleanor Roosevelt]] was a neighbor who lived across the hall.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Besonen|first=Julie|date=August 9, 2018|title=How 'Summer in the City' Became the Soundtrack for Every City Summer (Published 2018)|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/09/nyregion/summer-in-the-city-lovin-spoonful-soundtrack-for-city-summer.html|access-date=November 29, 2020|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

Sebastian grew up surrounded by music and musicians, including [[Burl Ives]] and [[Woody Guthrie]], and hearing such players as [[Lead Belly]] and [[Mississippi John Hurt]] in his own neighborhood.<ref name="SHOF">[http://www.songwritershalloffame.org/exhibits/bio/C6011 Songwriter Hall of Fame John Sebastian biography.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120311183101/http://songwritershalloffame.org/exhibits/bio/C6011 |date=March 11, 2012 }}. Retrieved January 5, 2009.</ref><ref name="JBS">[http://www.johnbsebastian.com/bio.html John Sebastian biography at www.johnbsebastian.com] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100210200516/http://www.johnbsebastian.com/bio.html |date=February 10, 2010 }}. Retrieved January 6, 2009.</ref> He graduated from [[Blair Academy]], a private boarding school in [[Blairstown, New Jersey]], in 1962.<ref>Blagden, Nellie, [http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20069148,00.html "Talk About a Steady Job— Miss Ellen Has Toiled at Blair Academy For 69 Years,"] ''[[People (magazine)|People]]'', September 26, 1977, archived online at People.com. Retrieved June 3, 2015.</ref> He next attended [[New York University]] for just over a year, but dropped out as he became more interested in musical pursuits.<ref name=echoes /><ref>Tuma, Debbie, [http://www.die-augenweide.de/spoon/story/jbs_interv2.htm "John Sebastian: Finding His Roots" (interview with John Sebastian)], die-augenweide.de. Retrieved June 8, 2015.</ref>

==Early career==
In the early 1960s, Sebastian developed an interest in [[blues]] music and in playing harmonica in a blues style, rather than the classical style of his father. Through his father's connections, he met and was influenced by blues musicians [[Sonny Terry]] and [[Lightnin' Hopkins]] (for whom Sebastian served as "unofficial tour guide and valet" when Hopkins was in New York City).<ref>Williamson, Chet, "A Lovin' Spoonful of Blues: The John Sebastian Trio With Paul Rishell and Annie Raines," ''[[Worcester Magazine]]'', June 12, 2002, p. 64.</ref><ref>Bob Ruggiero, [http://www.houstonpress.com/music/john-sebastian-and-lightnin-hopkins-the-odd-couple-6493934 "John Sebastian & Lightnin' Hopkins: The Odd Couple,"] ''[[Houston Press]]'', houstonpress.com, September 25, 2014. Retrieved June 3, 2015.</ref> Sebastian became part of the folk and blues scene that was developing in Greenwich Village, which in part later gave rise to [[folk rock]].<ref>Ruiz, Toni, & Henri Llach, [http://www.furious.com/perfect/folkniks.html "Fred Neil: The Other Side of 60s Greenwich Village Folk Scene,"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030801182621/http://www.furious.com/perfect/folkniks.html |date=August 1, 2003 }} ''[[Perfect Sound Forever (magazine)|Perfect Sound Forever]]'', July 2003, available online at furious.com. Retrieved June 3, 2015.</ref>

In addition to harmonica, Sebastian played guitar and occasionally [[autoharp]]. One of Sebastian's first [[sound recording and reproduction|recording]] gigs was playing guitar and harmonica for [[Billy Faier]]'s 1964 album ''The Beast of Billy Faier.''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://billyfaier.com/ |access-date=January 31, 2010 |title=Billy Faier – The Five String Banjo |date=December 10, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100124141438/http://www.billyfaier.com/ |archive-date=January 24, 2010 }}</ref> He also played on [[Fred Neil]]'s album ''[[Bleecker & MacDougal]]'' and [[Tom Rush]]'s self-titled album in 1965. He played in the [[Even Dozen Jug Band]] and in [[The Mugwumps (band)|the Mugwumps]], which split to form [[the Lovin' Spoonful]] and the [[The Mamas & the Papas|Mamas & the Papas]]. [[Bob Dylan]] invited him to play bass on his ''[[Bringing It All Back Home]]'' sessions (though Sebastian's parts probably did not appear on the album)<ref>Unterberger, Richie. [https://books.google.com/books?id=aO4yVYsXu5MC&pg=PA109 ''Turn! Turn! Turn! The '60s Folk-Rock Revolution.''] Backbeat Books, 2002, p. 109–110. {{ISBN|0-87930-703-X}}.</ref> and to join Dylan's new electric touring band, but Sebastian declined in order to concentrate on his own project, the Lovin' Spoonful.<ref>Sounes, Howard. [https://books.google.com/books?id=-GjRsF5AT_oC&pg=PT121 ''Down the Highway: The Life of Bob Dylan.''] Doubleday, 2001, p. 121. {{ISBN|978-0-8021-9545-6}}.</ref>

==The Lovin' Spoonful==
{{Main|The Lovin' Spoonful}}

[[File:Reb Foster, John Sebastian and B. Mitchel Reed.png|thumb|Sebastian in August{{nbsp}}1965, flanked by the disc jockeys [[Reb Foster]] (left) and [[B. Mitchel Reed]]]]

Sebastian was joined by [[Zal Yanovsky]], [[Steve Boone]], and [[Joe Butler]] in the Spoonful, which was named after "The Coffee Blues," a Mississippi John Hurt song. [[The Lovin' Spoonful]], which blended folk-rock and pop with elements of blues, [[country music|country]], and [[jug band|jug band music]], became part of the American response to the [[British Invasion]], and was noted for such [[chart-topper|hits]] as "[[Do You Believe in Magic (song)|Do You Believe in Magic]]", "Jug Band Music", "[[You Didn't Have to Be So Nice]]", "[[Daydream (1966 song)|Daydream]]", "[[Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind?]]", "[[Summer in the City (The Lovin' Spoonful song)|Summer in the City]]", "Rain on the Roof", "Nashville Cats", "[[Darling Be Home Soon]]", and "Six O'Clock".<ref name="RRHOF" /><ref>Bogdanov, Vladimir, et al., ed. [https://books.google.com/books?id=xR7MdpuSlAEC&pg=PT213 ''All Music Guide: The Definitive Guide to Popular Music'', 4th ed.] Backbeat Books, 2001, p. 240.</ref>

The band, however, began to implode after [[The Lovin' Spoonful's drug bust|a 1966 marijuana bust]] in [[San Francisco]] involving Yanovsky, a Canadian citizen. Facing [[deportation]], he revealed the name of his dealer to police, which caused a fan backlash and added to the internal tension already created by the diverging interests of the band members. Neither Sebastian nor Butler were involved in the matter, both being away from San Francisco at the time. Yanovsky subsequently left the band and was replaced by [[Jerry Yester]], after which the band's musical style veered away from its previous eclectic blend and became more pop-oriented.<ref name="Sony">{{cite web |url=http://sonylegacy.iventastage.com/The-Lovin-Spoonful/Biography.aspx|title=The Lovin' Spoonful - Biography |website=Sony BMG Music|author1= Unterberger, Richie |format=All Music Guide|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090116015159/http://sonylegacy.iventastage.com/The-Lovin-Spoonful/Biography.aspx |archive-date=January 16, 2009 |access-date=January 5, 2009}}</ref><ref name=boone>Boone, Steve, with Tony Moss. ''Hotter Than a Match Head: My Life On the Run with The Lovin' Spoonful''. ECW Press, 2014. {{ISBN|1-77041-193-3}}.</ref><ref name=kiersh>Kiersh, Edward. [https://books.google.com/books?id=5-OjW6joAc0C&pg=PT36 ''Where Are You Now, Bo Diddley? The Artists Who Made Us Rock and Where They Are Now.''] Doubleday, 1986, p. 36–37. {{ISBN|0-385-19448-X}}.</ref>

Sebastian would reunite with the band in 1980 and appear in the film ''[[One-Trick Pony (film)|One-Trick Pony]]''. He would later be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000, this was the last time Sebastian would play with the original line up.

In 2020 Sebastian reunited with Lovin Spoonful members Joe Butler and Steve Boone.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Kreps |first=Daniel |date=2020-03-01 |title=See Lovin' Spoonful Members Reunite Onstage for First Time in 20 Years |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/lovin-spoonful-reunite-benefit-concert-960233/ |access-date=2024-08-05 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Solo career 1960s–1970s==

===Broadway musical composer===
One of Sebastian's first projects after leaving the Spoonful was composing the music and lyrics for a play with music, ''[[Jimmy Shine]]'', written by [[Murray Schisgal]]. It opened on [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] in December 1968, with [[Dustin Hoffman]] in the title role, and ran until April 1969, for a total of over 150 performances.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20121102213226/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,839680,00.html?promoid=googlep "Theater: Urban Picaresque"], ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'', Time.com, December 13, 1968. Retrieved June 5, 2015.</ref><ref>Pollock, Bruce. [https://books.google.com/books?id=PD0vX2QIzdYC&pg=PA94 ''By the Time We Got to Woodstock: The Great Rock 'n' Roll Revolution of 1969.''] Backbeat Books, 2009, p. 94–95.</ref><ref>Bordman, Gerald. [https://books.google.com/books?id=cET0eE7j5o4C&pg=PA429 ''Theatre: A Chronicle of Comedy and Drama, 1930–1969'']. Oxford Univ. Press, 1996, p. 429. {{ISBN|0-19-509079-9}}.</ref><ref>Playbill Vault, [http://www.playbillvault.com/Show/Detail/8047/Jimmy-Shine "Jimmy Shine" (database entry)], playbillvault.com. Retrieved June 5, 2015.</ref><ref>The total number of ''Jimmy Shine'' performances reported varies: Pollock reports 166 performances, compared to 161 by Playbill Vault and 153 by Bordman.</ref> In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Sebastian wrote a stage musical adaptation of [[E.B. White]]'s ''[[Charlotte's Web]]'' in consultation with his godfather Garth Williams, who illustrated White's original book. The proposed musical included 20 songs, some of which Sebastian performed in concert, but the musical was never produced.<ref>Samuels, Lennox, [https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1368&dat=19800808&id=loBQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ChIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5725,1378831&hl=en "'Charlotte's Web' Captures Sebastian"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016205628/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1368&dat=19800808&id=loBQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ChIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5725,1378831&hl=en |date=October 16, 2015 }}, ''[[Milwaukee Sentinel]]'', August 8, 1980, Section Let's Go, p. 3.</ref><ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1981/03/13/arts/sha-na-na-revisits-the-50-s-and-60-s.html "Sha Na Na Revisits the 50s and 60s"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', March 13, 1981, archived at NYTimes.com.  Retrieved June 8, 2015.</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20150608145837/https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/10770633_e-b-white-john-sebastian-charlottes-web "Lot 36090, (E. B. White). John Sebastian. Charlotte's Web, (Musical) Based on the Book by E. B. White. Music and Lyrics by John Sebastian. Adaptation by John Sebastian." (auction lot listing for script).] Originally published at https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/10770633_e-b-white-john-sebastian-charlottes-web, February 8, 2012. Archived at Webcitation.org, June 8, 2015. Retrieved June 8, 2015.</ref>

===Woodstock appearance===

In August 1969, Sebastian made an unscheduled appearance at [[Woodstock]]. He traveled to the festival as a spectator, but was asked to appear when the organizers suddenly needed an [[acoustic music|acoustic]] performer after a rain break because they couldn't set up amps on stage for [[Santana (band)|Santana]] until the water was swept off.<ref>Myers, Marc, [https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-story-behind-darling-be-home-soon-by-the-lovin-spoonfuls-john-sebastian-1482957136 "The Story Behind 'Darling Be Home Soon' by the Lovin' Spoonful's John Sebastian"], ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'', wsj.com, December 28, 2016. Retrieved December 31, 2016.</ref> Sources that have tried to reconstruct the Woodstock running order differ on the exact time and position of Sebastian's unplanned set, with some stating that he played on Saturday, August 16, immediately after [[Country Joe McDonald]];<ref>Evans, Mike, and Paul Kingsbury. [https://books.google.com/books?id=eO8oChHYDhMC&pg=PA120 ''Woodstock: Three Days That Rocked the World.''] Sterling Publishing Co., 2009, p. 120. {{ISBN|978-1-4027-6623-7}}.</ref><ref>Perone, James E. [https://books.google.com/books?id=M-yEPUnB7GsC&pg=PA43 ''Woodstock: An Encyclopedia of the Music and Art Fair.''] Greenwood Press, 2005, p. 43. {{ISBN|0-313-33057-3}}</ref> others saying that on that Saturday, Santana followed McDonald and Sebastian appeared after Santana;<ref>[http://woodstock.com/lineup/ Woodstock Lineup, Woodstock.com.]  Retrieved June 4, 2015.</ref><ref>Graff, Gary, [https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/268452/woodstock-box-set-unearths-famous-festivals-rarities "Woodstock Box Set Unearths Famous Festival's Rarities"], ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'', billboard.com, June 5, 2009. Retrieved June 4, 2015.</ref><ref>Peppard, Alan, [http://popcultureblog.dallasnews.com/2014/09/welcome-back-john-sebastian-playing-live-at-poor-davids.html/ "Pop Culture Blog: Welcome Back, John Sebastian, Playing at Poor David's"], {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924025403/http://popcultureblog.dallasnews.com/2014/09/welcome-back-john-sebastian-playing-live-at-poor-davids.html/ |date=September 24, 2015 }} ''[[Dallas Morning News]]'', dallasnews.com, September 25, 2014. Retrieved June 4, 2015.</ref> and still others, including McDonald, recalling that Sebastian actually played on Friday, August 15, at some point after [[Richie Havens]] opened the festival.<ref>Spitz, Bob. [https://books.google.com/books?id=n7xUAgAAQBAJ&pg=PT268 ''Barefoot in Babylon: The Creation of the Woodstock Music Festival, 1969''.] Penguin (Plume), 1979, p. 268–270. {{ISBN|978-0-698-14194-0}}.</ref><ref>McDonald, Joe, [http://www.countryjoe.com/woodstock40.htm "Country Joe's Place: Woodstock's 40th Anniversary: 'If you can remember the 60s&nbsp;...'"], countryjoe.com. Retrieved June 5, 2015.</ref><ref>Monck, Chip (attributed by Joe McDonald via original link at http://www.countryjoe.com/woodstock40.htm), [https://web.archive.org/web/20080719010323/http://digitaldreamdoor.nutsie.com/pages/music0_woodstock.html "Woodstock 1969 Lineup and Songlist"], originally published at digitaldreamdoor.nutsie.com, archived at archive.org July 19, 2008. Retrieved June 5, 2015.</ref><ref name=fornatale>Fornatale, Pete. [https://books.google.com/books?id=VmcbZdbNcW4C&pg=PA49 ''Back to the Garden: The Story of Woodstock.''] Touchstone, 2009, p. 49–50. {{ISBN|978-1-4165-9119-1}}.</ref>

Sebastian's Woodstock set consisted of three songs from his recorded but not yet released ''[[John B. Sebastian (album)|John B. Sebastian]]'' album ("How Have You Been", "I Had a Dream", and "Rainbows All Over Your Blues") and two Lovin' Spoonful songs ("[[Darling Be Home Soon]]" and "Younger Generation", which he dedicated to a newborn baby at the festival). Documentary remarks by festival organizers indicated that Sebastian was under the influence of [[cannabis (drug)|marijuana]] or other [[psychedelic drug]]s<ref>Makower, Joel. ''Woodstock: The Oral History.'' Doubleday, 1989, p. 193. {{ISBN|0-385-24716-8}}.</ref><ref>Littleproud, Brad, and Joanne Hague. [https://books.google.com/books?id=JRAFZtmNoHQC&pg=PT81 ''Woodstock: Peace, Music and Memories.''] Krause Publications, 2009, p. 81. {{ISBN|0-89689-833-4}}.</ref> at the time, hence his spontaneity and casual, unplanned set.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=M-yEPUnB7GsC&pg=PA149 |title=Woodstock: An Encyclopedia of the Music and Art Fair|first=James E.|last=Perone |date=November 3, 2017|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|access-date=November 3, 2017|via=Google Books|page=149|isbn=9780313330575}}</ref> Sebastian has confirmed in later interviews that he was a regular marijuana user at the time and had taken [[lysergic acid diethylamide|acid]] at Woodstock because he was not scheduled to perform.<ref name=kiersh /><ref name=sebastianwoodstock>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100327224608/http://www.sonicboomers.com/pastprint/john-sebastians-spoonful-magic Bermant, Charles, "John Sebastian's Spoonful of Magic"], originally published at sonicboomers.com, March 26, 2010, archived at archive.org, March 27, 2010. Retrieved June 3, 2015.</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PD0vX2QIzdYC&pg=PA265 |title=By the Time We Got to Woodstock: The Great Rock 'n' Roll Revolution of 1969|page=265 |first=Bruce|last=Pollock|date=November 3, 2017|publisher=Hal Leonard Corporation |isbn=9780879309794|access-date=November 3, 2017|via=Google Books}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VmcbZdbNcW4C&pg=PA52|title=Back to the Garden: The Story of Woodstock|first=Pete|last=Fornatale|date=June 23, 2009|publisher=Simon and Schuster|access-date=November 3, 2017|via=Google Books|page=52|isbn=9781416591191}}</ref> However, he has also noted that "there was a natural high there [at Woodstock]," and that "[i]n an interview it is the easy thing to say 'yeah, I was really high,' but it was actually a very small part of the event. In fact, I had a small part of some pill that someone gave me before I went on stage, but it wasn't a real acid feeling."<ref name=sebastianwoodstock/> Sebastian appeared on the original [[Woodstock: Music from the Original Soundtrack and More|Woodstock album]] and in the [[Woodstock (film)|documentary film]]. Twenty-five years later, he returned for [[Woodstock '94]], playing harmonica for [[Crosby, Stills and Nash]] and appearing with his own band, the J-Band.

In September 1969, a month after Woodstock, Sebastian performed a similar set of solo and Spoonful material at the 1969 [[Big Sur Folk Festival]] and was featured in the subsequent documentary ''[[Celebration at Big Sur]]'' (1971).<ref>Hopkins, Jerry, [https://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/big-sur-19691018 "Big Sur: Less Crowds, More Peace at Sixth Annual Installment of Folk Festival"], ''[[Rolling Stone (magazine)|Rolling Stone]]'', October 18, 1969, archived at rollingstone.com. Retrieved June 5, 2015.</ref><ref>Greenspun, Roger, [https://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9807E7D81530E73BBC4852DFB266838A669EDE "Movie Review: Celebration at Big Sur (1971): Familiar Songs: 'Celebration at Big Sur' Depicts Pop Festival,"] ''[[The New York Times]]'', April 10, 1971, archived at nytimes.com. Retrieved June 5, 2015.</ref>

===Major-label solo recordings===
In January 1970, Sebastian released the first in a series of solo [[gramophone record|LPs]] on [[Reprise Records]] (a label owned by [[Warner Bros. Records]]), his [[eponymous]] solo debut, ''[[John B. Sebastian (album)|John B. Sebastian]]'', on which he was accompanied by various [[Los Angeles]] musicians including [[Crosby, Stills & Nash]]. It was Sebastian's highest-charting solo album, reaching No. 20 in the [[Billboard charts|Billboard album charts]]. In a contract dispute with [[MGM Records]], MGM, without authorization from Sebastian or his management, also released the ''John B. Sebastian'' album, under a different cover, and a live album, ''[[John Sebastian Live]]''; both were later withdrawn from the market.<ref name=kiersh /> Sebastian's second Reprise album, ''Cheapo Cheapo Productions Presents Real Live John Sebastian'', was hastily recorded in an effort to provide an authorized live album.<ref name=unter1>Unterberger, Richie, [http://www.richieunterberger.com/sebastian1.html "Liner Notes for John Sebastian's 'John B. Sebastian'" (Collector's Choice Music reissue CD)], richieunterberger.com. Retrieved June 5, 2015.</ref><ref name=unter2>Unterberger, Richie, [http://www.richieunterberger.com/sebastian1.html "Liner Notes for John Sebastian's 'Cheapo Cheapo Productions Presents Real Live'" (Collector's Choice Music reissue CD)], richieunterberger.com. Retrieved June 5, 2015.</ref>

[[File:2-JohnSebastianErikJacobsenZalYanovsky-Feb1974 4x6 300dpi.jpg|thumb|left|Sebastian in 1974 with [[Erik Jacobsen]] (center) and [[Zal Yanovsky]] (right)]]

For his third Reprise album, ''The Four of Us'' (1971), Sebastian used a core backing band consisting of keyboardist [[Paul Harris (musician)|Paul Harris]], drummer [[Dallas Taylor (drummer)|Dallas Taylor]] and bassist Kenny Altman. He considered forming a permanent band with them, but Harris and Taylor chose to join Stephen Stills's band [[Manassas (band)|Manassas]].<ref name=unter3>Unterberger, Richie, [http://www.richieunterberger.com/sebastian3.html "Liner Notes for John Sebastian's 'The Four of Us'" (Collector's Choice Music reissue CD)], richieunterberger.com. Retrieved June 5, 2015.</ref> In 1972, Sebastian also released a non-LP single, "Give Us a Break" b/w "Music for People Who Don't Speak English", which did not chart. On his next album, ''[[Tarzana Kid]]'' (1974), Sebastian returned to using a rotating group of well-known recording artists and session musicians, including [[Lowell George]] (who also co-wrote, with Sebastian, the album track "Face of Appalachia"), [[Phil Everly]], [[Emmylou Harris]], the [[The Pointer Sisters|Pointer Sisters]], [[David Grisman]], [[Russell DaShiell]], [[Ry Cooder]] and [[Buddy Emmons]]. Sebastian, George and Everly also briefly considered forming a [[supergroup (music)|supergroup]] but abandoned the idea.<ref name=unter4>Unterberger, Richie, [http://www.richieunterberger.com/sebastian4.html "Liner Notes for John Sebastian's 'Tarzana Kid'" (Collector's Choice Music reissue CD)], richieunterberger.com. Retrieved June 5, 2015.</ref><ref>Fong-Torres, Ben. [https://books.google.com/books?id=AT0TAAAAQBAJ&pg=PT91 ''Willin': The Story of Little Feat.''] Perseus, 2013, p. 81–82.</ref>

Sebastian has stated that his musical career suffered in the early 1970s from being out of step with the trends set by emerging artists such as [[Alice Cooper]], and that he made more money by buying and selling real estate than he did from his music. After ''Tarzana Kid'' failed to chart, Sebastian sought a release from his Reprise contract, which required him to make one more album. However, in 1976, Sebastian had an unexpected No. 1 single with "[[Welcome Back (John Sebastian song)|Welcome Back]]", the [[theme song]] to the sitcom ''[[Welcome Back, Kotter]]'',<ref name="SHOF" /> causing the label to rush the production of an album, also titled ''[[Welcome Back (John Sebastian album)|Welcome Back]]''.<ref name=echoes /> Despite the "monster hit" status of the song "Welcome Back", Sebastian expressed frustration that Reprise did not do more to promote the associated album, his last for Reprise.<ref name=kiersh /><ref name=unter5>Unterberger, Richie, [http://www.richieunterberger.com/sebastian5.html "Liner Notes for John Sebastian's 'Welcome Back'" (Collector's Choice Music reissue CD)], richieunterberger.com. Retrieved June 5, 2015.</ref> His later albums have been released primarily on [[independent record labels]]. The song, Sebastian's only top-40 solo hit, found new life 28 years later when a sample from it became the hook for [[rapper]] [[Mase]]'s 2004 hit "[[Welcome Back (Mase song)|Welcome Back]]".

In 2001, [[Rhino Entertainment]] re-released all five of Sebastian's Reprise albums, plus the non-LP "Give Us a Break" single, on [[compact disc|CD]] in a limited-edition [[box set]] entitled ''Faithful Virtue: The Reprise Recordings''. The box set also included live recordings of Sebastian's entire Woodstock performance and six previously unreleased songs recorded in mono from a performance at the [[Winterland Ballroom]] in [[San Francisco]] on October 4, 1969.<ref>Planer, Lindsay, [https://www.allmusic.com/album/faithful-virtue-the-reprise-recordings-mw0000967198 "Allmusic Review: John Sebastian, Faithful Virtue: The Reprise Recordings"], October 10, 2001. Retrieved June 4, 2015.</ref> In 2006, Sebastian's five Reprise albums were reissued as individual CDs by [[Collectors' Choice Music]], with new liner notes by [[Richie Unterberger]].<ref name=unter1 /><ref name=unter2 /><ref name=unter3 /><ref name=unter4 /><ref name=unter5 />

===Session work===
During the 1960s and 1970s, Sebastian guested on a number of recordings by other artists. He played harmonica with [[the Doors]] on the song "[[Roadhouse Blues]]" (from the album ''[[Morrison Hotel]]''), under the pseudonym G. Pugliese to avoid problems with his contract<ref>Frickle, David, "The Doors – Morrison Hotel" Remastered Liner Notes, 2006, p.7.</ref> and to avoid association with [[Jim Morrison]], who was then facing trial on charges of lewd behavior after the [[The Doors#Miami incident|Miami concert incident]]. He also appeared on two Doors live albums, playing on "[[Little Red Rooster]]" on  ''[[Alive, She Cried]]'' and on seven songs on ''[[Live In Detroit (The Doors album)|Live in Detroit]]''.<ref>[http://www.doors.com/magazine/detroit.html The Doors Live in Detroit CD Review at www.doors.com] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120724145130/http://www.doors.com/magazine/detroit.html |date=July 24, 2012 }}. Retrieved January 6, 2009.</ref><ref>[{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r521098|pure_url=yes}} Allmusic entry for The Doors Live in Detroit]. Retrieved January 6, 2009.</ref> Both albums were later re-released, remastered, and repackaged into one single album, ''[[In Concert (The Doors album)|In Concert]]'', and included Morrison's introduction of Sebastian to the stage on the "Little Red Rooster" track.

Sebastian is credited with playing three instruments on the 1970 Gordon Lightfoot album,  ''[[Sit Down Young Stranger]]'' (Reprise RS 6392). He played autoharp on "Saturday Clothes", electric guitar on "Baby It's Allright", and harmonica on "The Pony Man". The album was later retitled ''[[If You Could Read My Mind]]'' when the song of that name unexpectedly became a major hit.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Gordon-Lightfoot-Sit-Down-Young-Stranger/release/6504028|title=Gordon Lightfoot - Sit Down Young Stranger|website=Discogs|year=1970 |access-date=November 3, 2017}}</ref>

Sebastian is credited with playing harmonica on [[Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young]]'s song "Déjà Vu" from the [[Déjà Vu (Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young album)|album of the same name]].<ref>Rhino Entertainment, [http://www.rhino.com/article/once-upon-a-time-in-the-top-spot-john-sebastian-welcome-back "Once Upon a Time in the Top Spot: John Sebastian, 'Welcome Back'"], rhino.com. Retrieved June 5, 2015.</ref> He had previously been asked by [[Crosby, Stills & Nash]] to join their group as a fourth member, but turned them down, leading to their association with [[Neil Young]].<ref>[https://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/crosby-stills-and-nash/biography Crosby, Stills & Nash Biography], ''[[Rolling Stone (magazine)|Rolling Stone]]'', Rollingstone.com. Retrieved June 5, 2015.</ref> In 1977 he recorded as part of Artie and [[Happy Traum]]'s Woodstock Mountain Revue (a.k.a. Woodstock Mountains) folk collaboration for the album ''More Music From Mud Acres''.<ref>[http://www.discogs.com/Woodstock-Mountains-More-Music-From-Mud-Acres/release/1861342 "Woodstock Mountain – More Music From Mud Acres"], discogs.com. Retrieved June 7, 2015.</ref><ref>Heppner, Richard, and Janine Fallon-Mower. [https://books.google.com/books?id=NszePuRdiDUC&pg=PA42 ''Legendary Locals of Woodstock.''] Arcadia Publishing, 2013, p. 42. {{ISBN|978-1-4671-0067-0}}.</ref> Other records on which Sebastian appeared include the album ''[[Stephen Stills (album)|Stephen Stills]]'' (1970),<ref>Lazell, Barry, et al., ed. ''Rock Movers & Shakers.'' Billboard Books, 1989, p. 306. {{ISBN|0-8230-7608-3}}.</ref> [[Timothy Leary]]'s album ''[[You Can Be Anyone This Time Around]]'' (1970) (on which Sebastian jammed with [[Jimi Hendrix]]),<ref>Greenfield, Robert. [https://books.google.com/books?id=of4J2dbKvMoC&pg=PA357 ''Timothy Leary: A Biography.''] Harcourt, 2006, p. 357. {{ISBN|0-15-100500-1}}.</ref><ref>[http://fromthebarrelhouse.com/2013/09/25/timothy-learys-dangerous-psychedelic-album-you-can-be-anyone-this-time-around-1970/ "Timothy Leary's 'Dangerous' Psychedelic Album: You Can Be Anyone This Time Around 1970"], fromthebarrelhouse.com, September 25, 2013. Retrieved June 7, 2015.</ref> and [[Keith Moon]]'s only solo album, ''[[Two Sides of the Moon]]'' (1975).<ref>Neil, Andy, and Matt Kent. [https://books.google.com/books?id=c5yUA_S5pGoC&pg=PA253 ''Anyway Anyhow Anywhere: The Complete Chronicle of The Who, 1958–1978.''] Sterling, 2009, p. 253. {{ISBN|1-4027-6691-2}}.</ref> He also played the autoharp instrumental break between the second and third verses of [[Randy VanWarmer]]'s 1979 hit "[[Just When I Needed You Most]]".

==Later career==

Since the 1980s, Sebastian has been active in several music-related areas, not only writing and performing his own material but also performing roots music, developing soundtrack and instructional material, hosting and appearing on television programs, and writing a children's book about a harmonica-playing bear.

===Live performances===
[[Image:John Sebastian 1979.jpg|thumb|Performing at the Woodstock Reunion 1979 at [[Parr Meadows]] in [[Ridge, New York]]]]Sebastian left the Lovin' Spoonful in 1968 and did not play with any later versions of the band, except for a brief reunion with the other three original members to appear in [[Paul Simon]]'s 1980 film ''[[One-Trick Pony (film)|One-Trick Pony]]'', and again for a single performance at their [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] induction ceremony in 2000.<ref name="RRHOF" />

{{quote box|quote= [The Lovin'] Spoonful couldn't compete in 1974 because only two of its members [are] still in music.{{nbsp}}... I'm enjoying playing with other musicians and wouldn't trade it for what at best would be propping up [an] old idol for the bucks its memory might evoke.<ref name="VV 1974">{{cite news|last1=Smith|first1=Howard|last2=Van Der Horst|first2=Brian|title=Scenes: The Lovin' Half-Spoonful?|date=December 9, 1974|newspaper=[[The Village Voice]]|page=14|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ef5NAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA14|via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref> |source=– John Sebastian, 1974|width=25%|align=left|salign=right|style=padding:8px;}}

Sebastian has continued to tour and play live, both solo and with a variety of backing bands. He had a long association with the eclectic rock band [[NRBQ]], dating back to the early 1980s, when he played on NRBQ's album ''Grooves in Orbit'' (1983). He has said that NRBQ "to a large extent, picked up where The Lovin' Spoonful left off" because of NRBQ's "wide range of musical styles that they're not only able but accurate at playing," and he expressed appreciation for NRBQ's support during a low point in his career.<ref>DeAngelis, John, [http://www.nrbq.com/history/js_interview.html "Keeping the Magic Alive: The John Sebastian Interview"], ''DISCoveries Magazine'', excerpted at nrbq.com. Retrieved June 7, 2015.</ref> In turn, Sebastian helped NRBQ by using them on his own [[Nelvana]] and [[Disney Channel]] soundtrack projects during a period when litigation prevented them from recording.<ref>Freedman, Sam. [https://web.archive.org/web/20151016205628/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/nrbq-rsvp-19900111?page=2 "N.R.B.Q. R.S.V.P."], ''[[Rolling Stone (magazine)|Rolling Stone]]'', January 11, 1990, archived at Rollingstone.com. Retrieved June 7, 2015.</ref> Sebastian has used NRBQ as his own backing band,<ref name=boone /> appeared regularly at their concerts,<ref>Holden, Stephen, [https://www.nytimes.com/1982/05/26/arts/rock-sebastian-and-nrbq.html "Rock: Sebastian and NRBQ"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', May 26, 1982, archived at NYtimes.com. Retrieved June 7, 2015.</ref><ref>Catlin, Roger, [https://www.courant.com/1999/11/25/its-nrbqs-time-at-toads/ "It's NRBQ's Time at Toad's"], ''[[Hartford Courant]]'', November 25, 1999, archived at courant.com. Retrieved June 7, 2015.</ref> and recorded frequently with the band members,<ref>[http://www.nrbq.com/history/js_discography.html John Sebastian/ NRBQ Discography], nrbq.com. Retrieved June 7, 2015.</ref> and NRBQ founding member [[Terry Adams (musician)|Terry Adams]] refers to Sebastian as an "honorary member" of the band.<ref>Oates, Bridget, [http://www.slideshare.net/BridgetOates/016017key0515hearroadwarriorsterryadamsspreadlow-res "Terry Adams: NRBQ Co-Founder Goes From Funk to Monk"], ''Keyboard'', May 2015, p. 16.</ref> Although he performed Lovin' Spoonful songs solo and with NRBQ (who were themselves promoted in the 1980s as "the new Lovin' Spoonful"<ref name=boone />), he declined to reunite with several former Spoonful members in 1991.<ref name="Larkin 2006">{{cite encyclopedia |last=Larkin |first=Colin |title=Sebastian, John |url=https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofpo0007unse/page/326/mode/2up |url-access=registration |encyclopedia=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music |edition=4th |volume=7 |publisher=Oxford University Press |publication-place=New York |year=2006 |isbn=978-0-19-531373-4 |oclc=855309266 |page=[https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofpo0007unse/page/328/mode/2up 328] |via=Internet Archive}}</ref>

{{Anchor|Jband}}
Throughout the 1990s, Sebastian frequently appeared with the J-Band, a [[jug band]] including [[Fritz Richmond]] from the [[Jim Kweskin|Jim Kweskin Jug Band]], jug band pioneer [[Yank Rachell]], [[Jimmy Vivino]], and [[Geoff Muldaur]].<ref name="SHOF" /> Sebastian and the J-Band were featured in ''Chasin' Gus' Ghost'' (2007), a documentary about the roots and influence of jug band music.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://chasingusghost.com/bios/cast/ |title=''Chasin' Gus' Ghost'' documentary web site |publisher=Chasingusghost.com |access-date=October 14, 2010 |archive-date=May 13, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513141016/http://www.chasingusghost.com/bios/cast/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1087795/ IMDB entry for ''Chasin' Gus' Ghost'' documentary.]</ref> The film screened in August 2007 at the San Francisco Jug Band Festival (where Sebastian performed with other musicians featured in the film, including [[Geoff Muldaur]], [[Maria Muldaur]], [[Jim Kweskin]] and [[David Grisman]]) and made its film festival debut in October 2007 at the [[Woodstock Film Festival]]. In the film Sebastian humorously explains (with musical accompaniment) how his song, "Younger Girl", was inspired by [[Gus Cannon]]'s "Prison Wall Blues."

Sebastian's live performances in the 2000s have included performing as a trio with country blues duo [[Paul Rishell and Annie Raines]] in 2002; touring with [[Maria Muldaur]] and her Garden of Joy jug band in 2009; and occasional appearances with mandolinist [[David Grisman]], with whom Sebastian played in the [[Even Dozen Jug Band]] in the 1960s and more recently collaborated on a CD album release, ''[[Satisfied (David Grisman and John Sebastian album)|Satisfied]]''. In 2008 he performed solo, but with Roger McGuinn of the Byrds in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Each would play songs solo, but alternate their sets with each other.

===Record releases===
After leaving Reprise, Sebastian continued to occasionally release CD albums through a variety of small labels. Although a number of these releases consisted of compilations or live performances of his older material from the 1960s and 1970s, some, such as ''Tar Beach'' ([[Shanachie Records|Shanachie]], 1993) and ''[[Satisfied (David Grisman and John Sebastian album)|Satisfied]]'' (with [[David Grisman]]) (Acoustic Disc, 2007) have contained significant new recordings. ''Tar Beach'' in particular contained eleven previously unreleased songs written or co-written by Sebastian; four songs were composed by the team of Sebastian and songwriter Phil Galdston,<ref>Mason, Stewart, [https://www.allmusic.com/album/tar-beach-mw0000095210 " AllMusic Review: John Sebastian, Tar Beach"], Allmusic.com. Retrieved June 8, 2015.</ref> with whom Sebastian also collaborated on the score for the [[Sig Shore]]-directed feature film ''[[The Act (film)|The Act]]'' (1984). According to [[Colin Larkin (writer)|Colin Larkin]], Sebastian had written many of the songs that appeared on ''Tar Beach'' more than a decade prior to the album's release.<ref name="Larkin 2006"/> Two later releases, ''I Want My Roots'' (Music Masters, 1996) and ''Chasin' Gus' Ghost'' (Hollywood, 2000), focused on Sebastian's work with the J-Band.

===Soundtrack work===
Sebastian is a frequent contributor to film and TV soundtracks.  In particular, he has written and performed music for a number of children's films and TV productions.  He wrote the music and provided the singing voice of "Daniel Mouse" for the Canada-based [[Nelvana]] animated television special ''[[The Devil and Daniel Mouse]]'' (1978) about two mice attempting to succeed in the music business. He supplied music for several more Nelvana productions, including ''[[Strawberry Shortcake: Housewarming Surprise]]'' (1983), ''[[Strawberry Shortcake Meets the Berrykins]]'' (1985), ''[[The Care Bears Movie]]'' (1985), ''[[The Care Bears Adventure in Wonderland]]'' (1987), and "Care Bear Countdown", the theme song for Nelvana's ''[[The Care Bears Family]]'' TV series.  He also wrote and sang the theme song/narration for Nelvana's TV pilot ''[[The Get Along Gang]]''; however, none of it was kept when [[DIC Entertainment]] took over the project. He wrote and performed the theme song of the [[KNBC]] syndicated children's program ''[[That's Cat]]'' (1976–1979), and hosted a 1986 [[Disney Channel]] family special entitled ''What a Day for a Daydream''.<ref>Scripps Howard, "The Disney Channel Not Just Kid Stuff", ''[[The Pantagraph]]'' (Bloomington, Ill.), September 29, 1986, p. C5.</ref>

===Television presenter===
Since the 1980s, Sebastian has hosted several television programs about 1960s and 1970s music, including [[infomercial|paid program]]s for compilation sets, a syndicated live music and interview program called ''Deja View'',<ref name=boehme /> and a half-hour program called ''The Golden Age of Rock and Roll,'' which featured video footage of 1960s bands performing on variety shows. He also hosted a Lovin' Spoonful retrospective broadcast on [[PBS]] in March 2007, talking about various Spoonful numbers in between vintage video clips of the band up to the time he left.

===Children's book author===
In 1993, Sebastian authored a children's book, ''JB's Harmonica'', illustrated by his godfather [[Garth Williams]], about a young bear whose musical aspirations are overshadowed by the talents of his famous musician father.<ref name=boehme />

===Instructor at Homespun Tapes===
Sebastian has released a series of instructional DVDs, CDs, downloads, booklets, and (prior to the use of digital media) analog tapes for learning to play guitar, harmonica, and autoharp, or for learning specific styles or songs. These instructional materials are distributed by [[Happy Traum#Homespun Tapes|Homespun Tapes]], a company founded and operated by folk musician [[Happy Traum]].<ref name=sebastianwoodstock /> Materials offered with Sebastian as an instructor have included ''An Easy Guide to Tuning Your Guitar'', ''John Sebastian Teaches Eight Lovin' Spoonful Hits (and "Welcome Back")'', ''John Sebastian Teaches Blues Harmonica'', ''Learn to Play Autoharp'', and ''The Fingerpicking Blues of Mississippi John Hurt: A Spoonful of Classic Songs''.<ref>[http://www.homespuntapes.com/Instructors/john-sebastian "Homespun Music Instruction: Homespun Category – John Sebastian" (instructor page)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150621035719/http://www.homespuntapes.com/Instructors/john-sebastian |date=June 21, 2015 }}, Homespuntapes.com. Retrieved June 3, 2015.</ref>

===Other appearances and activities===

In November 1992, Sebastian made a cameo appearance on the sitcom ''[[Married... with Children]]'' (Season 7, Episode 9, "Rock of Ages") as himself, along with other 1960s rock stars [[Spencer Davis]], [[Richie Havens]], [[Robby Krieger]], [[Mark Lindsay]], and [[Peter Noone]].

Sebastian appeared on the [[Eels (band)|Eels]]' 2005 release, ''[[Blinking Lights and Other Revelations]]''.<ref>[https://www.popmatters.com/music/reviews/e/eels-blinking.shtml Pop Matters entry for review of ''Blinking Lights and Other Revelations.''] Retrieved January 12, 2009.</ref>

On January 12, 2014, Sebastian appeared on ''[[CBS News Sunday Morning]]'' to talk about his career with and without [[the Lovin' Spoonful]], [[Eric Clapton]], and the [[C. F. Martin & Company|Martin guitar]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/videos/the-mystique-of-martin-guitars/|title=The mystique of Martin Guitars|website=cbsnews.com|access-date=November 3, 2017}}</ref>

In 2016, Sebastian appeared on [[Richard Barone]]'s ''Sorrows & Promises: Greenwich Village in the 1960s'' album, playing harmonica, autoharp and making a vocal cameo on Barone's cover of the Lovin' Spoonful song "Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind?"

==Influence and legacy==

Sebastian is a notable songwriter whose work has been [[cover version|covered]] by many artists, including [[Elvis Costello]] ("The Room Nobody Lives In"), [[Johnny Cash]] ("Darlin' Companion"), and [[Del McCoury]] ("Nashville Cats"). Several songs have also spawned multiple covers, including:
* "Lovin' You" – covered by [[Dolly Parton]], [[Helen Reddy]], and [[Bobby Darin]];
* "Stories We Could Tell" – covered by [[Everly Brothers|the Everly Brothers]], [[Tom Petty]], and [[Jimmy Buffett]];
* "[[Darling Be Home Soon]]" – covered by [[Joe Cocker]], [[the Association]], [[Slade]], [[Cass Elliot]], [[Bruce Hornsby]], [[Allison Crowe]], and others.

Sebastian is also credited with helping to popularize the art of [[tie-dye]]ing clothing among music fans and festival goers in the late 1960s, by publicly appearing in outfits that he tie-dyed himself after learning the process from Ann Thomas of Water Baby Dye Works.<ref name=fornatale /><ref>"The Psychedelic Tie-Dye Look", ''[[Time (magazine)|Time Magazine]]'', January 26, 1970, p. 38.</ref> His tie-dyed yellow patterned denim jacket, which he dyed himself and wore at Woodstock, has been prominently displayed in the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]].<ref>Soeder, John, [http://www.cleveland.com/popmusic/index.ssf/2009/08/forty_years_after_woodstock_jo.html "Forty Years After Woodstock, John Sebastian Shares Tie-Dyed Memories"], ''[[The Plain Dealer]]'', Cleveland.com, August 9, 2009. Retrieved June 3, 2015.</ref>

''Stories We Could Tell'', the title of a novel by British writer [[Tony Parsons (British journalist)|Tony Parsons]], comes from the Sebastian song of the same name.

==Awards and honors==
As an original member of the Lovin' Spoonful, Sebastian was inducted into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] in 2000.

He was also inducted into the [[Songwriters Hall of Fame]] in 2008.<ref name="SHOF" />

==Personal life==

Sebastian has been married three times. His first wife was Jean "Butchie" Webber (later known as Butchie Denver after she married actor [[Bob Denver]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.taosnews.com/news/sixties-socialite-taos-bruja-butchie-denver-dies-at-74/article_26176bd0-4e36-5b9b-a276-8f8096b31d13.html|first=J.R.|last=Logan|newspaper=The Taos News|title=Sixties Socialite, Taos 'Bruja' Butchie Denver Dies at 74|date=April 16, 2016|access-date=December 1, 2020}}</ref> According to Steve Boone, Butchie was an early supporter and friend of the Lovin' Spoonful and secretly married Sebastian in the early 1960s to reduce his chances of being [[Conscription in the United States#Vietnam War|drafted]] for service in the [[Vietnam War]]. The couple divorced in 1966. In May{{nbsp}}1966,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Winchell |first1=Walter |title=Abbe Lane Sings In 7 Languages |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-francisco-examiner-walter-winche/176479192/ |work=[[The San Francisco Examiner]] |date=May 31, 1966 |page=37 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |quote=John Sebastian, lead lark of the Lovin' Spoonful[,] and fan[-]mag writer Laurie Kaye middle-aisled{{nbsp}}...}}</ref> Sebastian married Loretta "Laurie" Kaye, a waitress at [[Steve Paul]]'s [[The Scene (performance venue)|The Scene]] who later worked for ''[[Hit Parader]]'' magazine; they divorced in 1968.<ref name=echoes /><ref name=boone /><ref name=kiersh /><ref>Heil, Jane, [http://forumworldcultures.blogspot.com/2008/07/rock-roll-and-me-writing-60s.html "Rock, Roll and Me: Writing the '60s"], forumworldcultures.blogspot.com, July 20, 2008. Retrieved June 3, 2015.</ref>

In 1972, Sebastian married Catherine Barnett, a photographer and artist who has designed numerous album covers. The couple have two children,<ref name=echoes /><ref name=kiersh /><ref>Cordtz, Kay, [http://www.rollmagazine.com/archive/aug11/articles/art.php "Photographer Catherine Sebastian's Beautiful World"], ''Roll Magazine'', rollmagazine.com, Aug. 2011. Retrieved June 3, 2015.</ref><ref>Torres, Agnes, [https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1986/07/27/musical-variety-spices-john-sebastians-life/ "Musical Variety Spices John Sebastian's Life,"] ''[[Orlando Sentinel]]'', orlandosentinel.com, July 27, 1986. Retrieved June 3, 2015.</ref> and they have lived together in [[Woodstock, New York]], since 1976.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Besonen |first1=Julie |title=How 'Summer in the City' Became the Soundtrack for Every City Summer |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/09/nyregion/summer-in-the-city-lovin-spoonful-soundtrack-for-city-summer.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=August 9, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230407213243/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/09/nyregion/summer-in-the-city-lovin-spoonful-soundtrack-for-city-summer.html |archive-date=April 7, 2023|url-status=live|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

Since the early 1990s, Sebastian has struggled with throat problems that eventually affected and changed his singing voice, but he has continued to perform and tour.<ref name="Larkin 2006"/><ref name="Brend 2001">{{cite book |last=Brend |first=Mark |title=American Troubadours: Groundbreaking Singer Songwriters of the 60s |url=https://archive.org/details/americantroubado00bren |url-access=registration |publisher=Backbeat Books |publication-place=San Francisco, CA |year=2001 |isbn=978-0-87930-641-0 |oclc=1028046370 |page=[https://archive.org/details/americantroubado00bren/page/n173/mode/2up 172] |via=Internet Archive}}</ref>
=={{Anchor|Discography}} Solo discography==
===Original studio and live albums===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!width="55"|Release year
! style="width:100px;"|Label/catalog #
! style="width:200px;"|Album title
!width="20"|''Billboard'' Album Chart
! style="width:100px;"|Format
! style="width:200px;"|Notes
|-
| 1970|| [[Reprise Records|Reprise]]<br> RS 6379|| ''[[John B. Sebastian (album)|John B. Sebastian]]'' ||{{center| 20 }}||Vinyl (original)<br>Reel (RST-6379-B)<br>CD (reissue)|| Early copies of vinyl album contained "tie-dyed" liner notes. Reissued in USA by Collectors' Choice COLC 720 (2006).
|-
| 1970|| MGM<br> SE-4720 || ''[[John Sebastian Live]]'' ||{{center| 129 }}||Vinyl|| Recording of a live outdoor concert in Woodstock, NY in July 1970. Withdrawn from market in 1970, two months after release; at least one bootleg version circulated.
|-
| 1971|| Reprise<br> MS 2036 || ''Cheapo Cheapo Productions Presents Real Live John Sebastian'' ||{{center| 75 }}||Vinyl (original)<br>Reel (RST-2036-B)<br>CD (reissue)|| Recorded live at four California shows. Reissued in USA by Collectors' Choice COLC 724 (2006).
|-
| 1971|| Reprise<br> MS 2041 || ''The Four of Us'' ||{{center| 93 }}||Vinyl (original)<br>Reel (RST-2041-B)<br>CD (reissue)|| Reissued in USA by Collectors' Choice COLC 721 (2006).
|-
| 1974|| Reprise<br> MS 2187 || ''[[Tarzana Kid]]'' ||{{center| – }}||Vinyl (original)<br>CD (reissue)|| Reissued in USA by Collectors' Choice COLC 722 (2006).
|-
| 1976|| Reprise<br> MS 2249 || ''[[Welcome Back (John Sebastian album)|Welcome Back]]'' ||{{center| 79 }}||Vinyl (original)<br>CD (reissue)|| Reissued in USA by Vivid Sound RATCD-4235 (2004), Collectors' Choice COLC 724 (2006), and Rhino Entertainment (2008).
|-
| 1978|| [[Nelvana]]<br> NEL 7802 || ''[[The Devil and Daniel Mouse|The Devil and Daniel Mouse: A Nelvana Story Album]]'' ||{{center| – }}||Vinyl || Contains soundtrack from children's animated TV special, featuring songs written by Sebastian and sung by Sebastian (as "Daniel Mouse") and Laurel Runn (as "Jan Mouse"), with additional narration by Sebastian.
|-
| 1992|| [[Shanachie Records|Shanachie]]<br> 8006 || ''Tar Beach'' ||{{center| – }}||CD|| Studio album consisting of previously unreleased original tracks by Sebastian. Four songs were co-written with Phil Galdston, and the traditional "Mornin' Blues" was arranged by Sebastian.
|-
| 1996|| Music Masters<br> MMD 65137|| ''John Sebastian and the J-Band: <br>I Want My Roots'' ||{{center| – }}||CD || The J-Band consists of [[Jimmy Vivino]], [[Fritz Richmond]], and [[James Wormworth]], with guests [[Yank Rachell]], [[Paul Rishell and Annie Raines|Paul Rishell, Annie Raines]], [[Rory Block]], John Simon, and Richard Crooks.
|-
| 1999|| [[Hollywood Records|Hollywood]]<br> HR-62227-2 || ''John Sebastian and the J-Band:<br>Chasin' Gus' Ghost'' ||{{center| – }}||CD|| The J-Band consists of [[Paul Rishell and Annie Raines|Paul Rishell, Annie Raines]], [[Fritz Richmond]], and [[James Wormworth]], with guests [[Jimmy Vivino]], [[Geoff Muldaur]], [[Yank Rachell]], John Simon, [[Jerry Marotta]], and Benson Sebastian.
|-
| 2007|| Acoustic Disc<br> ACD-67 || ''[[Satisfied (David Grisman and John Sebastian album)|John Sebastian & David Grisman: Satisfied]]''|| {{center| – }}||CD ||With [[David Grisman]]; collection of traditional folk songs and some original songs. 
|-
| 2021|| Renew Records / BMG || ''John Sebastian and Arlen Roth Explore the Spoonful Songbook'' || {{center| – }}||Vinyl, CD, and digital ||Thirteen reimagined songs from Sebastian's hit-making band plus "Stories We Could Tell", originally included on 1974's [[Tarzana Kid]]; the [[MonaLisa Twins]] add guest vocals to four cuts 
|- 
|}

===Original U.S. singles===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!width="55"|Release year
! style="width:130px;"|Label/catalog #
! style="width:300px;"|Titles (A-side / B-side)
!width="20"|''Billboard'' Top Singles
!width="20"|''Cashbox''
|-
| 1968<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dark |first1=J. Robertt |last2=Mike |first2=Tevis |title=Disc Ussion |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-wichita-beacon-disc-ussion-by-j-robe/157420281/ |work=[[The Wichita Beacon]] |date=November 27, 1968 |page=8C |quote=Some new singles of interest:{{nbsp}}... 'She's a Lady,' John Sebastian{{nbsp}}... |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>|| Kama Sutra KA-254|| "She's a Lady/The Room Nobody Lives In" ||{{center| 84 }}|| {{center|62 }}
|-
| 1970|| Reprise 0902|| "Magical Connection/Fa-Fana-Fa" ||{{center| – }}|| {{center| – }}
|-
| 1970|| Reprise 0918|| "What She Thinks About/Red Eye Express" ||{{center| – }}|| {{center| – }}
|-
| 1970|| MGM 14122|| "Rainbows All Over Your Blues/You're a Big Boy Now" ||{{center| – }}|| {{center| – }}
|-
| 1971|| Reprise 1026|| "I Don't Want Nobody Else/Sweet Muse" ||{{center| – }}|| {{center| – }}
|-
| 1971|| Reprise 1050|| "[[In My Time of Dying|Well, Well, Well]]/We'll See"  ||{{center| – }}|| {{center| – }}
|-
| 1972|| Reprise 1074|| "Give Us a Break/Music for People Who Don't Speak English"  ||{{center| – }}|| {{center| – }}
|-
| 1976|| Reprise 1349|| "[[Welcome Back (John Sebastian song)|Welcome Back]]/Warm Baby" ||{{center| 1 }}|| {{center| 1 }}
|-
| 1976|| Reprise 1355|| "Hideaway/One Step Forward, Two Steps Back" ||{{center| 95 }}|| {{center| – }}
|}

===Selected reissues, compilations, and archival live albums===
Much of Sebastian's material, especially his 1970s Reprise albums and the 1996 ''King Biscuit Flower Hour'' live recording, has been reissued and/or repackaged many times; therefore, this table is selective. Sebastian has also released various formats and packages of long-playing instructional materials for [[Homespun Tapes]], which are not included in this table.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!width="55"|Release year
! style="width:100px;"|Label/catalog #
! style="width:200px;"|Album title
!width="20"|''Billboard'' Album Chart
! style="width:100px;"|Format
! style="width:200px;"|Notes
|-
| 1970|| [[MGM Records|MGM]]<br> SE-4654 || ''[[John B. Sebastian (album)|John B. Sebastian]]'' ||{{center| – }}|| Vinyl||Exact same album as Reprise RS 6379, with different cover art. Withdrawn from market in 1970.
|-
| 1989|| [[Rhino Entertainment|Rhino]]<br> 70170 || ''The Best of John Sebastian'' ||{{center| – }}||Vinyl, cassette and CD || "Best-of" compilation of selected tracks from Reprise albums ''John B. Sebastian'', ''The Four of Us'', ''Tarzana Kid'', and ''Welcome Back'', plus the non-LP song "Give Us a Break".
|-
| 1996|| [[King Biscuit Flower Hour#King Biscuit Flower Hour Records|King Biscuit Flower Hour]]<br> KBFHCD016 || ''John Sebastian Live on the King Biscuit Flower Hour'' ||{{center| – }}||CD (original and reissue)<br> DVD Audio (reissue)|| Recording of a live concert in [[Brookhaven, NY]], Sept. 9. 1979. Reissued several times with different running order and/or some tracks omitted as:<br>''From the Front Row&nbsp;... Live!'' (DVD Audio, Silverline, 2003) <br>''John Sebastian Live'' (CD, [[EMI-Capitol Special Markets]], 2006; not the same as the 1970 MGM vinyl LP of the same name) <br>''Nashville Cats'' (CD, Disky (Netherlands), 2001).
|-
| 2001|| Rhino Handmade<br> RHM2 7758|| ''Faithful Virtue: The Reprise Recordings'' ||{{center| – }}||CD || Box set containing reissues of all five Reprise albums; bonus tracks consisting of Sebastian's entire 1969 Woodstock set and six tracks recorded live at [[Winterland Ballroom|Winterland]] in San Francisco on October 4, 1969; 48-page liner notes booklet; and poster. Limited numbered edition of 3000. The box set was reissued in 2014 by [[Wounded Bird Records]] without the bonus tracks, booklet and poster.
|-
| 2001|| [[Hux Records|Hux]]<br> HUX024 || ''One Guy, One Guitar'' <ref>{{AllMusic |class=album |id=one-guy-one-guitar-mw0000025001 |label=John Sebastian{{snd}}One Guy, One Guitar |first=Richie |last=Unterberger |access-date=September 14, 2015 }}</ref> ||{{center| – }}||CD || Two live sets at [[Cambridge Folk Festival]] recorded for [[BBC Radio 1]] on August 2, 1981, and July 29, 1984, featuring Sebastian accompanying himself on acoustic guitar. Includes 12-page booklet.
|-
| 2007|| [[Raven Records|Raven (Australia)]]<br> RAEN 249 || ''John Sebastian: Life and Times 1964–1999''|| {{center| – }}||CD ||Compilation mostly containing [[The Lovin' Spoonful|Lovin' Spoonful]] material from the band's [[Kama Sutra Records|Kama Sutra]] releases, but also a few tracks selected from early 1960s [[Even Dozen Jug Band]], Lovin' Spoonful [[Elektra Records|Elektra]] tracks, Sebastian solo Reprise recordings, and J-Band recordings.
|-
| 2014|| Edsel<br> EDSG 8039 || ''John B. Sebastian/ The Four of Us/ Tarzana Kid/ Welcome Back''|| {{center| – }}||CD + DVD ||Re-release of the four studio Reprise albums, bundled with DVD of a previously unreleased concert recorded for the [[BBC]] on October 16, 1970. Includes 36-page booklet.
|-
|}

===Contributions to "various artists" albums===
This table lists songs written or performed by Sebastian that were originally released on — and in many cases, are only available on — compilations or collaborations with various artists, including but not limited to soundtrack albums. Contributions as a guest on albums released under the name of a specific artist or group are not included.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!width="55"|Release year
! style="width:100px;"|Label/catalog #
! style="width:200px;"|Album title
! style="width:100px;"|Format
! style="width:200px;"|Contributions<br>(All songs written by Sebastian unless otherwise noted)
|-
| 1969|| [[Cotillion Records|Cotillion]]/[[Atlantic Records|Atlantic]]<br>SD 3-500|| ''[[Woodstock: Music from the Original Soundtrack and More]]'' (festival film soundtrack) ||Vinyl (original)<br>CD (1994 reissue)|| Live versions from Woodstock Festival:<br>"I Had a Dream"<br>"Rainbows All Over Your Blues"
|-
| 1977|| [[Rounder Records|Rounder]]<br> 3018 || ''Woodstock Mountains: More Music From Mud Acres''<br>(collaborative folk project featuring musicians from [[Woodstock, New York]] area) ||Vinyl||Plays on the following songs:<br>"Bluegrass Boy" ([[John Herald]]), "Waiting for a Train" ([[Jimmie Rodgers (country singer)|Jimmie Rodgers]]), "Morning Blues" (traditional), "Mason Dixon's on the Line" ([[Pat Alger]]), "Amazing Grace" (traditional)
|-
| 1979|| [[Columbia Records|Columbia]]<br>JC 36292|| ''[[Skatetown, U.S.A.#Soundtrack|Skatetown, U.S.A.]]''<br>(soundtrack to film of the same name) ||Vinyl|| "Roller Girl"
|-
| 1985|| [[Kid Stuff Records|Kid Stuff]]<br>DAR-3901 (Vinyl LP)<br> DT 4901 (Cassette) || ''[[The Care Bears Movie#soundtrack|The Care Bears Movie: Original Soundtrack Album]]''||Vinyl, Cassette||"Nobody Cares Like a Bear"<br>"When You Care, You're Not Afraid to Try"<br>"In a Care Bear Family" 
|-
| 1994|| [[Atlantic Records|Atlantic]]<br>7567-82618-2 XY || ''[[The Best of Woodstock]]''||CD||Live version from Woodstock Festival:<br>"I Had a Dream"
|-
| 1994|| Atlantic<br>82636-2|| ''[[Woodstock: Three Days of Peace and Music]]''||CD (box set)||Live versions from Woodstock Festival:<br>"Rainbows All Over Your Blues"<br>"I Had a Dream"
|-
| 1999|| [[Shanachie Records|Shanachie]]<br>6041<br> (re-released 2002 as [[St. Clair Entertainment Group]] 6788)|| ''Song of the Hills: Instrumental Impressions of Appalachian Classics''<br>(re-release title: ''Man of Constant Sorrow: Instrumental Impressions of the American Heartland'')||CD||Plays on the following traditional folk songs: "Tom Bigbee Waltz", "When First Unto This Country", "Wagoner's Lad" 
|-
| 2004|| Lovenotes<br>—|| ''Tails of the City: Dog Tunes by Murray Weinstock''||CD||Performs "Dog Day Afternoon" with [[Joey Spampinato]]<br>(song written by Murray Weinstock) 
|-
| 2009|| [[Rhino Entertainment|Rhino]]<br>7567-82618-2 XY || ''[[Woodstock: 40 Years On: Back to Yasgur's Farm]]''||CD (box set)||Live versions from Woodstock Festival:<br>"How Have You Been"<br>"Rainbows All Over Your Blues"<br>"I Had a Dream"
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
{{Refbegin}}
* {{cite book |last1=Barone |first1=Richard |author1-link=Richard Barone |title=Music + Revolution: Greenwich Village in the 1960s |date=2022 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |location=Lanham, Maryland |isbn=978-1-4930-6302-4 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=e991EAAAQBAJ |language=en |via=[[Google Books]]}}
{{Refend}}

==External links==
{{commons and category}}
* {{Official website|http://www.johnbsebastian.com/}}
* [http://www.wirz.de/music/evendoz.htm Illustrated Even Dozen Jug Band discography]
* [http://www.geocities.com/johnsebastianfiles/reillythe4ofus.html Peter Reilly's review of ''The Four of Us'']{{dead link|date=January 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
* [http://www.chasingusghost.com Chasin' Gus' Chost jug band documentary] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919055230/http://chasingusghost.com/ |date=September 19, 2020 }}
*{{Pop Chronicles|33|4}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150406103246/http://www.classicbands.com/JohnSebastianInterview.html Interview at classicbands.com]
*[https://www.namm.org/library/oral-history/john-sebastian John Sebastian Interview - NAMM Oral History Library (2016)]

{{John Sebastian}}
{{The Lovin' Spoonful}}
{{2000 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame}}
{{Woodstock}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sebastian, John}}
[[Category:1944 births]]
[[Category:20th-century American singer-songwriters]]
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