If you were a well-known New Orleans musician in the 1950s and '60s, “Deacon” John Moore probably played guitar on your hit record and/or sang at your funeral.

Fats Domino, Dave Bartholomew, Allen Toussaint, Dr. John, Walter “Wolfman” Washington , Snooks Eaglin — he sang all of them home.

“It all goes back to the name,” he theorizes.

In high school, his “preaching” style of singing inspired his drummer to christen him “Deacon John,” a twist on a name mentioned in Roy Brown’s “Good Rockin’ Tonight.”

At first, Moore wasn't sure about being a "deacon." He thought he’d be mistaken for a gospel singer and lose bookings.

“But when I grew older and wiser, I found out it was a God-given name, because there’s two things I do the most in life. I comfort people in times of sorrow, attested by

See Full Page