It’s being claimed that Deacon John is turning 75, and he’s celebrating in style at Tipitina’s this Saturday night with a big Birthday Bash. But Deac was actually born on June 23, 1941…so he’s almost three-quarters of a century old. Whatever…

The always dapper bandleader, guitarist/singer and raconteur will take the stage at 9 p.m. backed by his full band. Sounds like a pawty.

Deacon John came up in the golden age of New Orleans R&B and owes much of his success to his versatility, as he explained to John Swenson in a 2010 article celebrating his Best of the Beat Lifetime Achievement in Music award.

“Growing up in New Orleans, you have to be a versatile musician in order to make a living. On these types of engagements, your repertoire needed to satisfy the audiences. I just had a certain knack for that. When you play a wedding reception, it’s not the same as a night club. You’ve got to play these big social aid and pleasure clubs where they want you to play waltzes and second lines on the same night. There are debutante parties where you’ve got to play a different song for each debutante. You have to have a wide range of music to select from in order to play all those different kinds of gigs. I would play a nightclub one night and a wedding the next day, and the next day it was backing up at a big concert, or opening at the Municipal Auditorium for acts like Sam Cooke, Lou Rawls, Ray Charles, the Impressions, Jerry Butler, Major Lance, all of the artists that were popular at the time.”

Come out to Tip’s to help Deacon John celebrate his “latest” birthday. You will not be disappointed. Happy Birthday, Deac!