Robert Randolph & The Family Band
is a multicultural American funk and soul band led by pedal steel guitarist Robert Randolph. Other band members include drummer Marcus Randolph, bass guitarist Danyel Morgan, vocalist Lenesha Randolph, and one of three rotating rhythm guitarists: Joey Williams of Blind Boys of Alabama, Adam Smirnoff "Shmeeans" , and Cousin Ray-Ray. Jason Crosby (keyboards and fiddle) is a former member.
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ROBERT RANDOLPH & THE FAMILY BAND TICKETS
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Band history
Frontman Robert Randolph was trained as a
pedal steel guitarist in the House of God Church and makes prominent use of the instrument in the band's music. Randolph, a native of
Irvington, New Jersey,
[1] began playing the steel guitar in the House of God Church. The instrument is referred to in many African American Pentecostal churches as
Sacred Steel. Randolph was discovered while playing at a sacred steel convention in
Florida.
Randolph cites the late
Stevie Ray Vaughan as a primary influence in his own technique and style. The group's sound is inspired by successful 1970s funk bands such as
Earth, Wind & Fire and
Sly & the Family Stone, another multicultural band composed of former members of the Church of God in Christ. Randolph himself has explained that in his adolescent years before his discovery by the secular community, he was almost completely unaware of non-religious music, saying "I never heard of the
Allman Brothers,
Buddy Guy,
Muddy Waters, none of them. I wasn’t into that music, only the church thing."
The first Robert Randolph & the Family Band album,
Live at the Wetlands
, was released in 2002, recorded live just prior to the club's closing. The band released their studio debut,
Unclassified
on
August 5,
2003. They attracted the attention of
Eric Clapton, and have subsequently toured as a supporting act with the English
blues guitarist. Clapton also guested on their new album
Colorblind
on the track "
Jesus Is Just Alright".
Before releasing albums with The Family Band, Randolph was selected by avant-jazz organist
John Medeski to join him and the
North Mississippi Allstars on their 2001 jam project,
The Word. Just prior to the release of this album, Randolph was brought to the attention of some music fans through an enthusiastic review by
Neil Strauss in the
New York Times
in April 2001. On that first non-church tour of the East Coast, the new band opened for the North Mississippi Allstars and then rejoined the musicians after their set, with Medeski, as The Word.
In September 2003 Randolph was listed as #97 on
Rolling Stone's
100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time list.
In 2002, they were hired by
ABC to make the network's new
NBA theme song. The song, "We Got Hoops", was only used for three telecasts, though it was used throughout both the NBA and
WNBA seasons during promotions for both leagues.
In February 2004 Robert Randolph & the Family Band along with the band
O.A.R. released a cover version of
Led Zeppelin's "
Fool in the Rain", which was subsequently placed for purchase online in the
iTunes Music Store. This version was played live with
O.A.R. at their August 15, 2009 show at
Madison Square Garden.
The third album,
Colorblind
, was released
October 10,
2006. The song "Ain't Nothing Wrong With That" was used in several commercials for
NBC. In June of 2008 the
Discovery Channel used this same song in a popular promo entitled "It's All Good" for their summer lineup.
They are currently working on their fourth album with producer
T-Bone Burnett.
Concert life
Randolph's concerts are known for their lively stage performances, with Randolph content to let the rest of the band play on while he dances. Dance is an integral part of the concerts. During "Shake Your Hips", women are encouraged to dance onstage.
For the song "The March", Randolph leaves his instrument to instruct the crowd on how to properly perform the intricate dance move. In the band's earlier days, Randolph would temporarily stop the show if members of the audience were not dancing and appeared not to be enjoying themselves.
Other noteworthy concert regulars involve the entire band trading off instruments allowing the entire band to show off their musical proficiencies. When he becomes completely enthralled by his music, Randolph will kick the chair away from his
pedal steel guitar and dance while he plays. A microphone is occasionally passed around the front row of the audience, so they can sing during the song "I Need More Love". Audience members are also called up on stage to sing ("
Purple Haze") or be a guest guitarist for one song.
In 2004 Robert Randolph was the opening act on the
Eric Clapton tour. Randolph & the Family Band also is featured prominently in the Eric Clapton:
Crossroads Guitar Festival 2004 DVD. The band also appears on
Bonnaroo Music Festival DVDs.
The length of the concerts can vary greatly depending on what songs are played (the band does not use a set list) and how long jams last. Concerts go over the allotted time if the band and the audience are having fun. Most concerts don't have an intermission; instead, band members will exit the stage leaving one or two members a chance to shine with solos. The one time the band does stop is so the band can relax, get hydrated, and plan the encore.
On
January 24,
2007, Robert Randolph & the Family Band played in Dallas at Victory Plaza outside of the American Airlines Center as part of the 2007 NHL All Star game festivities. The band also played before the start of the
2007 NHL All-Star Game.
The Family Band has opened for
Dave Matthews Band for some shows on their 2002-07 tours. In 2005 Robert Randolph appeared on the Dave Matthews Band release
Weekend on the Rocks
. Robert Randolph has performed as a guest during the Dave Matthews Band set on songs such as "
All Along the Watchtower", "Louisiana Bayou", "Stand Up", "Smooth Rider", "You Might Die Trying", and "Two Step", among others.
In 2007, Robert Randolph & the Family Band played at the inaugural
South Padre International Music Festival.
In 2008, Robert Randolph & the Family Band opened for
Eric Clapton and was also one of four featured artists on the
Music Builds Tour.
Robert Randolph & the Family Band played in Oxford, Mississippi on April 25, 2009 as part of the 14th annual Double Decker Arts Festival.
On Wednesday May 27, 2009 Robert Randolph and the Family Band opened for the Dave Matthews Band at the
Darien Lake Performing Arts Center, just outside of
Buffalo, New York.
On Saturday, August 15, 2009, Robert appeared live with
O.A.R. at Madison Square Garden to play their collaborative 2004-cover of
Led Zeppelin's "Fool In The Rain"
Soundtrack appearances
- The Game Plan
- "Ain't Nothing Wrong with That"
- Stomp the Yard
- "Ain't Nothing Wrong with That"
- Grey's Anatomy
- "Ain't Nothing Wrong with That"
- NBA on ABC
- "We Got Hoops"
- Saturday Night Football - "Thrill of It"
- NBA Live 07 - "Thrill of It"
- Malcolm in the Middle - "Going in the Right Direction"
- A series of Subway restaurant commercials - "Ain't Nothing Wrong with That"
- Discovery Channel - "Ain't Nothing Wrong with That"
Guest appearances
- "Oh My Lord" - Ringo Starr on Choose Love
- "Trinity" - Santana on All That I Am
- "I Am an Illusion" - Rob Thomas on Something to Be
- "Mas Y Mas" - Los Lobos on Live at the Fillmore
(DVD version)
- "Mission Temple Fireworks Stand" - Sawyer Brown on Mission Temple Fireworks Stand
- "Out in the Woods" and "That's My Home" - Buddy Guy on Skin Deep
- "The Good Life" - Rachael Lampa on Rachael Lampa
- "Lay Lady Lay" - Buddy Guy on Bring 'Em In
- "Crosstown Traffic" - Soulive on Break Out
- "Cissy Strut", "Ruler of My Heart" and "Tell It Like It Is" - Dirty Dozen Brass Band on Medicated Magic
- "Train's A Comin'" - JD & the Straight Shot on Right On Time
- "Exodus" and "Louisiana Bayou" - Dave Matthews Band on Complete Weekend on the Rocks
- "Otherside" - Third Day on Revelation
Other appearances
In 2009, Robert Randolph, along with
The Clark Sisters, released a version of the song “
Higher Ground” on the compilation album
Oh Happy Day: An All-Star Music Celebration.
[2]
Discography
- Live at the Wetlands
, September 2002
- Unclassified
, August 2003
- Colorblind
, October 2006
See also