John Sebastian Wants You to Know His Presence in New Documentary About the ‘Zelig’ of Rock

John Sebastian has long been aware that his music lingers in peoples memories. For those who grew up in the 1960s and 1970s, hits like Do You Believe in Magic and Summer in the City with the Lovin Spoonful, or the theme song Welcome Back from the sitcom Welcome Back, Kotter, remain iconic. The latter has even resurfaced in modern commercials and samples, yet many listeners might not immediately connect the name John Sebastian to these songs.

At 81, Sebastian reflects on his career with a candid humility. Unlike his contemporaries, he never wrote a traditional memoir, which may explain why his name isnt always widely recognized. However, he recently participated in a documentary titled Ill Paint Rainbows All Over Your Blues, directed by Todd Kwait and Chris Andersen, which revisits the peaks and pitfalls of his musical journey, including the Lovin Spoonfuls famous drug bust.

Sebastians story is anything but conventional. Raised by a classical harmonica player and a radio actress, he cut his teeth in the early 1960s New York folk scene, crossing paths with legends like Bob Dylan before co-founding the Lovin Spoonful. His performance at Woodstock, partially under the influence, cemented his image as a symbol of the era, though he downplays the myth of being extremely intoxicated.

The documentary features interviews with musicians such as Stephen Stills, Graham Nash, Arlo Guthrie, Michelle Phillips, and Spoonful bassist Steve Boone, exploring both Sebastians charm and the challenges he faced. Archival footage, including moments with his father, underscores that his life was shaped more by affection than the angst common to many rock stars of his generation.

Post-Woodstock, Sebastian made unique career choices, producing albums like The Four of Us and writing the theme for Welcome Back, Kotter, which earned him lasting recognition and the home he still resides in. Despite setbacks, including the Lovin Spoonful missing opportunities like the Monterey Pop Festival due to a tarnished reputation, Sebastian maintained a steady presence in American roots music.

Throughout the film, Sebastian reflects on the Spoonful curse, the bands ahead-of-its-time genre-blending, and the challenges of navigating fame. He openly discusses selling his music publishing rights to support his family and shares stories of iconic moments, such as his Woodstock jacket later selling for $64,000 at auction.

Looking back, Sebastian is less concerned with accolades and more with the record of his life and music. Ill Paint Rainbows All Over Your Blues stands as a testament to his presence in rock history: Some of you noticed. Some didnt. But here he is, he says, summing up a career filled with both remarkable highs and quietly resilient perseverance.

Author: Noah Whitman