John Benson Sebastian (born March 17, 1944) is an American singer, songwriter and musician who founded the rock band the Lovin' Spoonful. He made an impromptu appearance at the Woodstock festival in 1969 and scored a U.S. No. 1 hit in 1976 with "Welcome Back."
Sebastian in 1974
Sebastian in the 1970s with Erik Jacobsen (center) and Zal Yanovsky (right)
Performing at the Woodstock Reunion 1979 at Parr Meadows in Ridge, New York
The Lovin' Spoonful is an American folk-rock band formed in Greenwich Village, New York City, in 1964. The band was among the most popular groups in the United States for a short period in the mid-1960s and their music and image influenced many of the contemporary rock acts of their era. Beginning in July 1965 with their debut single "Do You Believe in Magic", the band had seven consecutive singles reach the Top Ten of the U.S. charts in the eighteen months that followed, including the number-two hits "Daydream" and "Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind?" and the chart-topping "Summer in the City".
The Lovin' Spoonful in 1965 Clockwise from bottom right: John Sebastian, Zal Yanovsky, Joe Butler and Steve Boone
The Lovin' Spoonful rehearsed for weeks in early 1965 in the basement of Greenwich Village's Hotel Albert (pictured 2023).
The Lovin' Spoonful performing live, 1965
A trade ad for "Nashville Cats", the Lovin' Spoonful's seventh and final single to reach the US Top Ten