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Robert Randolph

Robert Randolph & The Family Band is a multicultural American funk and soul band composed of Robert Randolph, Marcus Randolph (drums), Danyel Morgan (bass), and Jason Crosby (organ). Frontman Robert Randolph was trained as a pedal steel guitarist in the House of God Church, Keith Dominion, and makes prominent use of the instrument in the band's music. Randolph a native of Maplewood, New Jersey began playing the steel guitar in the House of God Church, which used steel guitars in worship services. Sacred Steel as it is called is used in many African American Pentecostal style churches and while playing at a sacred steel convention in Florida Randolph was discovered. The group's sound is inspired by successful 1970s funk bands such as Earth, Wind & Fire and Sly & the Family Stone, another multicultural band comprised of former members of the Church of God in Christ. Randolph himself has also stated that his main influence as a guitarist is Stevie Ray Vaughan.

The first Robert Randolph & the Family Band album, Live at the Wetlands, was released in 2002. 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 British blues guitarist. Clapton also featured on the 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.

In September of 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 2005, Randolph, along with Kirk Hammett of Metallica, guested on the song "Trinity" on Santana's album All That I Am.

The third album, Colorblind, was released October 10, 2006. The song "Ain't Nothing Wrong With That" is used on many commercials for NBC. The band was contracted by ABC to perform and shoot a video for "Thrill of It" as an introduction for Saturday Night Football for six games in the 2006 season.

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8
Live Review

Robert Randolph & the Family Band with Memphis Crawl at the Space at Westbury

Read "Robert Randolph & the Family Band with Memphis Crawl at the Space at Westbury" reviewed by Mike Perciaccante


Robert Randolph & the Family Band with Memphis Crawl Space at Westbury Westbury, NY July 22, 2017 Robert Randolph and the Family Band is a New Jersey-based funk and soul outfit led by pedal steel guitarist Robert Randolph (who has sometimes been called the “Jimi Hendrix of the pedal steel guitar"). The majority of the Family Band is comprised of Randolph's blood--his cousins play drums, keyboards and bass and his sister Lenesha Randolph handles ...

291
Album Review

Robert Randolph & The Family Band: Colorblind

Read "Colorblind" reviewed by Chris M. Slawecki


In a relatively short time, Robert Randolph has become generally renowned as “the Hendrix of pedal steel guitar, expanding the instrument's vocabulary and approach beyond its familiar country/pop settings. He's in what must be a rather exclusive club of musicians who have guest-starred, upon request, with the Five Blind Boys of Alabama and with Ozzy Osbourne. “I'm trying to create a new field and a new style that'll influence some kids to go, 'Wow, I can be Black and be ...

284
Live Review

Robert Randolph and The Family Band in Burlington Vermont

Read "Robert Randolph and The Family Band in Burlington Vermont" reviewed by Doug Collette


If Robert Randolph wasn't such a natural musician and performer, his effervescence on stage would come off contrived and he'd fall flat. But if that were the case, he would not have been able to pick up and shake the audience at Memorial Auditorium the way he did this mid-winter night.

Cutting his teeth as a multi-instrumentalist in the church gives Randolph both the motivation and the means to connect with his listeners. His pedal steel playing is nothing like ...

723
Profile

Meet Steel Sensation Robert Randolph

Read "Meet Steel Sensation Robert Randolph" reviewed by David Lott


Before a performance in Birmingham, Alabama, AAJ had the opportunity to speak with pedal steel prodigy Robert Randolph about the pedal steel guitar, the church, improvising, and writing music.

As he is seated before his pedal steel guitar, the energy mounting during Robert Randolph's performance seems to increase exponentially. It is only a matter of time before he can not even contain himself; only moments before he shouts, kicks his chair from under him and joins the audience ...

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108

Recording

Robert Randolph and the Family Band - Colorblind (2006)

Robert Randolph and the Family Band - Colorblind (2006)

Source: Something Else!

By Mark Saleski Inertia. Sure, it's a physics thing, but I like to apply it to music every once in a while. I'm not talking career inertia; the rising star thing. No. It's the music. You hear it and it has an energy that's impossible to resist. That perfectly describes the music of Robert Randolph and The Family Band. There are a few other attributes common to musical inertia. The first is that you'll begin to feel the urge to ...

124

Festival

Redhookfest: Citizen Cope, Soulive, Robert Randolph

Redhookfest: Citizen Cope, Soulive, Robert Randolph

Source: JamBase

TICKETS ON SALE NOW AT WWW.REDHOOK.COM Join Redhook Brewery in Portsmouth, New Hampshire for the 30th birthday bash and the 15th annual RedhookFest. The monumental birthday will be headlined by indie rocker Citizen Cope and is expected to attract thousands of craft beer and music lovers from across New England for a summertime bash in the brewery's backyard. For this year's birthday celebration, Redhook has partnered with 100.3 the ROCK Station to offer live music, food, and Redhook beer. RedhookFest ...

228

Performance / Tour

Robert Randolph: Tour Dates

Robert Randolph: Tour Dates

Source: JamBase

TOUR STARTS APRIL 17 AT WEST COAST BLUES N' ROOTS FEST IN PERTH, AUSTRALIA Robert Randolph & The Family Band have announced a slew of tour dates that will take them through North America, Europe, Australia and a week's worth of shows in Japan. Check out all the tour dates below. TOUR DATES

04/08/11 Fri Lyric Theatre Oxford, MS 04/17/11 Sun West Coast Blues 'n' Roots Perth, AU 04/20/11 Wed The Gov Hindmarsh, AU 04/21/11 Thu Enmore Theatre Sydney, AU ...

88

Festival

Hot August Blues Fest: Tedeschi Trucks Band, Robert Randolph

Hot August Blues Fest: Tedeschi Trucks Band, Robert Randolph

Source: JamBase

SATURDAY, AUGUST 20, OREGON RIDGE PARK, COCKEYSVILLE, MD; EARLY-EARLY BIRD TICKETS ON SALE THIS WEDNESDAY With the Hot August Blues & Roots Festival nearing its second decade, the excitement is mounting as details emerge about the lineup. Confirmed acts include Tedeschi Trucks Band, Robert Randolph and The Family Band, Kings Go Forth, J. Roddy Walston and The Business, and Tom Larsen. Set for Saturday, August 20, 2011 at Oregon Ridge Park in Cockeysville, MD, early-early bird tickets go on sale ...

71

Performance / Tour

Robert Randolph: Winter Dates

Robert Randolph: Winter Dates

Source: JamBase

WE WALK THIS ROAD OUT NOW Robert Randolph & The Family Band have announced Winter 2011 tour dates, beginning January 20 in Fayetteville, AR and ending in Burlington, VT at the Higher Groundon February 20. Presale is happening now for the San Francisco, CA and Austin, TX dates. Check out all tour dates below. TOUR DATES

01/20/11 George's Majestic Fayetteville, AR 01/21/11 Liberty Hall Lawrence, KS 01/22/11 Ogden Theatre Denver, CO 01/28/11 The Independent San Francisco, CA 01/29/11 The Independent ...

111

Performance / Tour

Robert Randolph/NMAS: New Year's Eve in Chicago

Robert Randolph/NMAS: New Year's Eve in Chicago

Source: JamBase

PRE SALE TODAY AT 10 AM CDT THROUGH THURSDAY 10 PM CDT Robert Randolph and the North Mississippi Allstars will celebrate the new year with a December 31 performance at the House of Blues in Chicago. Pre-sale starts today at 10 AM CDT and ends on 10 PM CDT on Thursday. General on sale begins Friday, October 22 at 10 AM CDT. The pre-sale password is “JamHOB"

102

Performance / Tour

Robert Randolph: Fall Tour Dates

Robert Randolph: Fall Tour Dates

Source: JamBase

TOUR STARTS OCTOBER 6 IN TULSA, OKLAHOMA Robert Randolph & the Family Band are happy to announce new fall tour dates. Pre-sale for the following dates begins 9/1 at 9am. You can find ticket links for these shows on the tour page. Public on sale begins on 9/9. 10/29—Washington, DC—9:30 Club 10/30—Washington, DC—9:30 Club Ticket links and pre-sale information for the following shows will be available soon. Please check www.robertrandolph.net for details. 10/6—Tulsa, OK—Cain's Ballroom 10/9—New Orleans, LA—Tipitina's ...

228

Video / DVD

Robert Randolph and the Family Band if I Had My Way Video

Robert Randolph and the Family Band if I Had My Way Video

Source: JamBase

NOW THIS IS GOSPEL WE CAN GET DOWN WITH!

While most of us won't be lucky enough to catch Robert Randolph & The Family Band in a tiny bar, we can experience what it might be like in this swell new clip from their new album, We Walk This Road (released June 21), where they reconfigure Blind Willie Johnson's gospel standard by removing Sampson and substituting Daniel in the lion's den. Clever folks and heavens can they play!


164

Interview

Robert Randolph: Shot of Love

Robert Randolph: Shot of Love

Source: JamBase

By: Dennis Cook

Robert Randolph As Robert Randolph & The Family Band approach their first decade together, all evidence is their game is tighter than ever. Boldly emerging from the gospel community, Randolph - easily the greatest innovator on his weapon of choice, pedal steel guitar, since Red Rhodes reshaped the instrument with Michael Nesmith in the '70s - has always hummed with abundant spirit and Holy Ghost energy. This has never been clearer or more finely etched than third ...

81

TV / Film

Chess Records Biopic Robert Randolph, Keb' MO'

Chess Records Biopic Robert Randolph, Keb' MO'

Source: JamBase

OPENS APRIL 9 IN NEW YORK CITY

Who Do You Love is the new film about Leonard and Phil Chess, legendary founders of Chess Records. The film opens in theaters beginning April 9 in NYC and stars Robert Randolph (as Bo Diddley), Keb' Mo', Raheem DeVaughn, Ryan Shaw and Alessandro Nivola (as Leonard Chess). Who Do You Love features authentic musical performances (all of the music was recorded and performed by the artists themselves) and a score full of Chess ...

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