Dr. John playing 'IKO IKO'

The great Doctor playing 'IKO IKO' with its characteristic Bo Diddley rhythm.

"Iko Iko" is a much-covered New Orleans song that tells of a parade collision between two "tribes" of Mardi Gras Indians. The lyrics are derived from Indian chants and popular catchphrases. The song, under the original title "Jock-A-Mo", was written in 1954 by James "Sugar Boy" Crawford in New Orleans, but has spread so widely that many people take it to be a much older folk song. The song is closely identified as a Mardi Gras song, but it is equally known as a Top 40 hit. The main melody bears a strong resemblance to the guitar riff in "Son de la Loma" recorded by the Trio Matamoros. "Son de la Loma" was written by Miguel Matamoros sometime before May 8, 1925.[1]

The story tells of a "spy dog" or lookout for one band of Indians encountering the "flag boy" or guidon carrier for another band. He threatens to set the flag on fire.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Dr.
• John
• Bo
• Diddley
• Mardi
• Gras
• Indians
• Dixie
• Cups
• Blues
• piano
• Pattern
• Boogie
• rhythm
• James
• Crawford

[LynchMobster47]

How the F*&^ does he play 10ths with his left hand?

[ilikezappa]

I like him ,but no way is he going to remove my appendix

[0008890]

@LynchMobster47 I'm faaaaaaaar from his talent, and I'm a bass player but i can do it

[BMatthews0]

@LynchMobster47 it's not even like a C to an E either. He plays D to F# like it's nothing

[monacode001]

@LynchMobster47 i tried his hands must be huge lol

[vmsquier]

He just has gigantic hands... extra reach

[rodgermingaye]

@LynchMobster47

beats me - I tried it and can't even come close - especially in D !!

[tyleryesta1]

I just posted a lesson of his song "Such A Night" if anyone would like to learn it. It's under Dr. John Such A Night Piano Lesson.

[rockermanmatt]

@gubaldino Not just a help, some people are physically unable to play that as their hands are too small. It's like Hendrix, he could play chords on the guitar that many professionals find physically impossible.

[gubaldino]

@LynchMobster47 Big hands are a help, but it you can train your hands to stretch to a certain degree. An old friend of mine and reach a 13th (octave and a sixth) with his right hand. That's bigger than Oscar Peterson (octave and a fifth).

[LynchMobster47]

@gubaldino No I do play piano and my pinky and thumb can be 180 degrees from each other but it's still to far for my hands.

[gubaldino]

@LynchMobster47 You stretch. I guess you don't play piano. You practice, and your hand stretches.