The Black Keys vocalist has teamed with bosses at RadicalMedia and Impact Artist Productions to start working on the project chronicling the life of one of New Orleans, Louisiana's favorite sons.

• Jul 13, 2021

AceShowbiz - The Black Keys star Dan Auerbach is to make his directorial debut by helming a new movie about late music icon Dr. John.

The rocker has teamed with bosses at RadicalMedia and Impact Artist Productions to start work on "The Untitled Dr. John Documentary Project".

Dr. John's longtime managers, Ed Gerard and Peter Himberger, will serve as executive producers on the film, which will chronicle the life of one of New Orleans, Louisiana's favorite sons, real name Mac Rebennack.

"This is the tale of true Americana, of the art that can sometimes come from our darkest times," a press release reads. "While racial oppression in 1950s America was as ugly as ever, a musical revolution began in New Orleans. To get around the Jim Crow segregation laws of the time, we learn how Mac and his bandmates had to break the rules, trick the clubs, and protect each other all for the love of music."

"As a white kid raised in this racial melting pot, he was at home amongst the black, Creole, and Afro-Cuban musicians. This music - and its diverse community - became young Mac's entire life. Dr. John took the lead in nationally advancing a merged style of music, combining country and rhythm and blues. This is a look at what it means to be a true original."

Auerbach produced Dr. John's album "Locked Down" in 2012. The album went on to win the 2013 Best Blues Album Grammy.

"I'm thrilled to be partnering with RadicalMedia and Impact Artist Productions to try my hand at directing a documentary feature for the first time and I'm honored to have the subject be my friend Dr John," The Black Keys star says. "He was such a unique individual and a shining example of the great melting pot of American music."

"From his mysterious voodoo stage persona, Dr. John, to his real, humble self Mac Rebannack - the street poet, the family man, the junkie, the Grammy award winner and all that's in between, this documentary will introduce the world to him in a way they haven't seen him before. I'm still learning bits about him that I never knew, and I hope the movie provides a lens into the story of the life of Dr John."