Robert Randolph and the Family Band is an American

gospel Gospel originally meant the Christian message (" the gospel"), but in the 2nd century it came to be used also for the books in which the message was set out. In this sense a gospel can be defined as a loose-knit, episodic narrative of the words a ...

band led by

pedal steel guitar The pedal steel guitar is a console-type of steel guitar with pedals and knee levers that change the pitch of certain strings to enable playing more varied and complex music than any previous steel guitar design. Like all steel guitars, it can ...

ist Robert Randolph (Robert Jermaine Randolph, born August 8, 1977,

Irvington, New Jersey Irvington is a township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. Per the 2020 census, the population was 61,176. The township had the ninth-highest property tax rate in New Jersey, with an equalized rate of 4.890% in 2020, compared to 2.82 ...

). NPR has described the band as one with an "irresistible rock 'n' roll swagger". ''

Rolling Stone ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first known for its co ...

'' included Randolph upon their list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time. The band has released six studio albums and has been

Grammy The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pres ...

nominated four times.

Band history

Frontman Robert Randolph was trained as a

ist in the House of God Church and makes prominent use of the instrument in the band's music. 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 Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, a ...

. The group's sound is inspired by legendary funk bands such as

Earth, Wind & Fire Earth, Wind & Fire (EW&F or EWF) is an American band whose music spans the genres of jazz, R&B, soul, funk, disco, pop, big band, Latin, and Afro pop. They are among the best-selling bands of all time, with sales of over 90 million r ...

and

Sly & the Family Stone Sly and the Family Stone was an American band from San Francisco. Active from 1966 to 1983, it was pivotal in the development of funk, soul, rock, and psychedelic music. Its core line-up was led by singer-songwriter, record producer, and mult ...

. Randolph himself has explained that in his adolescent years before being discovered by the secular community, he was almost completely unaware of non-religious music. He went on exclaim in an interview that "I grew up and saw a lot of older guys playing lap steels and pedal-steel guitars in my church. I had never heard of the Allman Brothers, or even Buddy Guy or Muddy Waters." Before releasing albums with The Family Band, Randolph was selected by avant-garde jazz organist

John Medeski Anthony John Medeski (born June 28, 1965) is an American jazz keyboard player and composer. Medeski is a veteran of New York's 1990s avant-garde jazz scene and is known popularly as a member of Medeski Martin & Wood. He plays the acoustic piano ...

to join him and the North Mississippi Allstars on their 2001 jam project, The Word. Just prior to the release of The Word's debut album, Randolph was brought to the attention of music fans through a review by Neil Strauss in ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

'' in April 2001. On their first non-church tour of the East Coast, Randolph's new Family Band opened for the North Mississippi Allstars and then rejoined the musicians after their set, with Medeski, as The Word. The first Robert Randolph and the Family Band album, '' Live at the Wetlands'', was released in 2002 on Family Band Records, recorded live on August 23, 2001, 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 later guested on their 2006 album '' Colorblind'', playing on a cover of " Jesus Is Just Alright". In 2002, they were hired by ABC to make the network's new NBA theme song. The song, "We Got Hoops", only appeared in three telecasts, though it was used throughout both the NBA and WNBA seasons during promotions for both leagues. In September 2003 Randolph was listed as No. 97 on ''

Rolling Stone's Rolling is a type of motion that combines rotation (commonly, of an axially symmetric object) and translation of that object with respect to a surface (either one or the other moves), such that, if ideal conditions exist, the two are in contact ...

'' 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time list. Robert entered the list following Leigh Stephens and directly preceding Angus Young. In February 2004 Robert Randolph and the Family Band along with the band O.A.R. released a cover version of

Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin were an English rock band formed in London in 1968. The group comprised vocalist Robert Plant, guitarist Jimmy Page, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham. With a heavy, guitar-driven sound, they are c ...

's "

Fool in the Rain "Fool in the Rain" is the third song on Led Zeppelin's 1979 album '' In Through the Out Door''. It was the last single released in the US before they formally disbanded in 1980. The song reached number 21 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 on 16 Febr ...

", which was made available for online purchase through iTunes. This version was played live with O.A.R. at their June 18, 2009 show at Charter One Pavilion in Chicago. Their third album, '' Colorblind'', was released October 10, 2006. The song "Ain't Nothing Wrong With That" was used in several commercials for NBC, and used in Katherine Jenkins and Mark Ballas' jive on Dancing with the Stars. In June 2008 the

Discovery Channel Discovery Channel (known as The Discovery Channel from 1985 to 1995, and often referred to as simply Discovery) is an American cable channel owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav. , Discovery Chan ...

used this same song in a popular promo entitled "It's All Good" for their summer lineup. The song "Thrill of It" was used throughout the 2007 college football season by ABC during their College Primetime games. They worked with producer T-Bone Burnett on their fourth studio album '' We Walk This Road'', released in 2010. They released the supposed first single from that album entitled "Get There" but this song did not appear on the album. The first official single from the album is "If I Had My Way." Randolph used his steel guitar with a wah-wah pedal Their 2019 recording, ''Brighter Days'', was chosen as a 'Favorite Blues Album' by

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the dat ...

Live appearances

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. Other noteworthy concert regulars involve the entire band trading instruments allowing each member to show off their musical proficiency. When he becomes completely enthralled by his music, Randolph will kick the chair away from his

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 "Purple Haze" is a song written by Jimi Hendrix and released as the second single by the Jimi Hendrix Experience on March 17, 1967. The song features his inventive guitar playing, which uses the signature Hendrix chord and a mix of blues and ...

") or be a guest guitarist for one song. The band made its first television appearance on ''

Late Show with David Letterman The ''Late Show with David Letterman'' is an American late-night talk show hosted by David Letterman on CBS, the first iteration of the ''Late Show'' franchise. The show debuted on August 30, 1993, and was produced by Letterman's production c ...

'' on August 5, 2003, performing "I Need More Love". In 2004, Robert Randolph and the Family Band was the opening act on the Eric Clapton tour. They are featured prominently in the Clapton's '' Crossroads Guitar Festival'' DVD (2004). 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 October 9, 2004, Robert Randolph and the Family Band appeared on the PBS television show Austin City Limits. Robert Randolph and Eric Clapton 31May2008

Robert Randolph and Eric Clapton 31May2008

On January 24, 2007, they 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 Dave Matthews Band (also known by the initials DMB) is an American rock band formed in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 1991. The band's founding members were singer-songwriter and guitarist Dave Matthews, bassist Stefan Lessard, drummer and back ...

for some shows on their 2002–09 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 "All Along the Watchtower" is a song by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan from his eighth studio album, ''John Wesley Harding'' (1967). The song was written by Dylan and produced by Bob Johnston. The song's lyrics, which in its original vers ...

", "Louisiana Bayou", "Stand Up", "Smooth Rider", "You Might Die Trying", and "Two Step", among others. In 2007, Robert Randolph and the Family Band played at the inaugural

South Padre International Music Festival South Padre International Music Festival (also known as SPI Music Fest) is an annual 3-day music festival held on South Padre Island, Texas. The event features international and national artists, encompassing a wide range of musical genres includi ...

. In 2008, they opened for Eric Clapton and were also one of four featured artists on the

Music Builds Tour The Music Builds Tour was a 23-show festival-style concert tour spanning three months in late 2008. Rock bands Switchfoot and Robert Randolph and the Family Band, along with Third Day and Jars of Clay co-headlined the event. As such, the tour ...

. Robert Randolph and the Family Band played in Oxford, Mississippi on April 25, 2009, as part of the 14th annual Double Decker Arts Festival. In 2009 Randolph also sat in on two live performances of

's "Fool In The Rain" with the band O.A.R. Also, on June 22, 2014, Robert Randolph and the Family Band played at the TD Toronto Jazz Fest, welcoming a new "cousin" Andrew Prince to the stage for two songs. Robert Randolph and the Family Band played the 10th annual Rooster Walk Music and Arts Festival in May 2018. On July 30th, 2022 Robert Randolph and the Family Band opened for

Zac Brown Band Zac Brown Band is an American country music band based in Atlanta, Georgia. The lineup consists of Zac Brown (lead vocals, guitar), Jimmy De Martini ( fiddle, vocals), John Driskell Hopkins (bass guitar, guitar, baritone guitar, banjo, ukulele ...

outside the Soaring Eagle Casino in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan.

Accolades

Grammy Awards

, - , align="center" ,

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, "Squeeze" , Best Rock Instrumental Performance , , - , align="center" ,

, ''Unclassified'' , Best Rock Gospel Album , , - , align="center" ,

2017 File:2017 Events Collage V2.png, From top left, clockwise: The War Against ISIS at the Battle of Mosul (2016-2017); aftermath of the Manchester Arena bombing; The Solar eclipse of August 21, 2017 ("Great American Eclipse"); North Korea tests a ser ...

, ''Got Soul'' , Best Contemporary Blues Album , , - , align="center" ,

2020 2020 was heavily defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to global social and economic disruption, mass cancellations and postponements of events, worldwide lockdowns and the largest economic recession since the Great Depression in ...

, ''Brighter Days'' , Best Contemporary Blues Album , , -

Discography

Studio albums

Live albums

* '' Live at the Wetlands'' (2002) * ''Live in Concert'' (2011)

Guest appearances on albums

*2001: "Garden of Love" and "Opportunity" – Demolition String Band on ''Pulling Up Atlantis'' *2002: "

Cissy Strut "Cissy Strut" is a 1969 funk instrumental by The Meters. Released as a single from their eponymous debut album, it reached No. 4 on the R&B chart and No. 23 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. The song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 20 ...

", "Ruler of My Heart" and " Tell It Like It Is" –

Dirty Dozen Brass Band The Dirty Dozen Brass Band is a brass band based in New Orleans, Louisiana. The ensemble was established in 1977, by Benny Jones and members of the Tornado Brass Band. The Dirty Dozen revolutionized the New Orleans brass band style by incorpor ...

on ''Medicated Magic'' *2004: "Mas Y Mas" –

Los Lobos Los Lobos (, Spanish for "the Wolves") are an American rock band from East Los Angeles, California. Their music is influenced by rock and roll, Tex-Mex, country, zydeco, folk, R&B, blues, brown-eyed soul, and traditional music such as cum ...

on ''

Live at the Fillmore ''Live at the Fillmore'' and similar names may refer to any of the following live albums, recorded at any of the concert venues known as "the Fillmore". Fillmore venues * The Fillmore in San Francisco * The Fillmore West in San Francisco * The ...

'' (DVD version) *2004: "The Good Life" – Rachael Lampa on '' Rachael Lampa'' *2005: " Crosstown Traffic" – Soulive on '' Break Out'' *2005: "Exodus" and "Louisiana Bayou" –

on ''

Complete Weekend on the Rocks ''Weekend on the Rocks'' is a live album by Dave Matthews Band. It contains highlights of the four shows in four days the band performed at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado on September 9–12, 2005. The set is packaged on two ...

'' *2005: "I Am an Illusion" – Rob Thomas on '' ...Something to Be'' *2005: "

I Want to Take You Higher "I Want to Take You Higher" is a song by the soul/ rock/ funk band Sly and the Family Stone, the B-side to their Top 30 hit " Stand!". Unlike most of the other tracks on the '' Stand!'' album, "I Want to Take You Higher" is not a message song; i ...

" –

Sly & The Family Stone Sly and the Family Stone was an American band from San Francisco. Active from 1966 to 1983, it was pivotal in the development of funk, soul, rock, and psychedelic music. Its core line-up was led by singer-songwriter, record producer, and mult ...

on ''

Different Strokes by Different Folks ''Different Strokes by Different Folks'' is a remix and cover album by American funk, and soul band Sly and the Family Stone. Description Released first as a Starbucks-exclusive in 2005, this version (recognizable by its black background cover) ...

'' *2005: "

Lay Lady Lay "Lay Lady Lay", sometimes rendered "Lay, Lady, Lay", is a song written by Bob Dylan and originally released in 1969 on his ''Nashville Skyline'' album. Like many of the tracks on the album, Dylan sings the song in a low croon, rather than in the ...

" – Buddy Guy on '' Bring 'Em In'' *2005: "Mission Temple Fireworks Stand" –

Sawyer Brown Sawyer Brown is an American country music band. It was founded in 1981 in Apopka, Florida, by Mark Miller (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Gregg "Hobie" Hubbard (keyboards, vocals), Bobby Randall (lead guitar, vocals), Joe "Curly" Smyth (drums), an ...

on '' Mission Temple Fireworks Stand'' *2005: "Oh My Lord" –

Ringo Starr Sir Richard Starkey (born 7 July 1940), known professionally as Ringo Starr, is an English musician, singer, songwriter and actor who achieved international fame as the drummer for the Beatles. Starr occasionally sang lead vocals with the ...

on '' Choose Love'' *2005: "Trinity" – Santana and

Kirk Hammett Kirk Lee Hammett (born November 18, 1962) is an American musician who has been the lead guitarist and a contributing songwriter for heavy metal band Metallica since 1983. Before joining Metallica, he formed and named the band Exodus. In 2003, ...

Metallica Metallica is an American heavy metal band. The band was formed in 1981 in Los Angeles by vocalist/guitarist James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich, and has been based in San Francisco for most of its career. The band's fast tempos, instru ...

on '' All That I Am'' *2005: "21st Century Schizoid Man" –

Ozzy Osbourne John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne (born 3 December 1948) is an English singer, songwriter, and television personality. He rose to prominence during the 1970s as the lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Black Sabbath, during which period he adop ...

on '' Under Cover'' *2008: "Otherside" –

Third Day Third Day was a Christian rock band formed in Marietta, Georgia during the 1990s. The band was founded by lead singer Mac Powell, guitarist Mark Lee (both of whom were the only constant members) and Billy Wilkins. Drummer David Carr was the ...

on ''Revelation'' *2008: "Out in the Woods" and "That's My Home" – Buddy Guy on '' Skin Deep'' *2008: "Train's A Comin'" – JD & The Straight Shot on ''Right On Time'' *2010: "There's No Tomorrow" –

Elton John Sir Elton Hercules John (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight; 25 March 1947) is a British singer, pianist and composer. Commonly nicknamed the "Rocket Man" after his 1972 hit single of the same name, John has led a commercially successful career a ...

Leon Russell Leon Russell (born Claude Russell Bridges; April 2, 1942 – November 13, 2016) was an American musician and songwriter who was involved with numerous bestselling records during his 60-year career that spanned multiple genres, including rock and ...

on '' The Union'' *2011: "Straight Down the Line" –

Robbie Robertson Jaime Royal "Robbie" Robertson, OC (born July 5, 1943), is a Canadian musician. He is best known for his work as lead guitarist and songwriter for the Band, and for his career as a solo recording artist. With the deaths of Richard Manuel i ...

on '' How to Become Clairvoyant'' *2015: "Oh My Lord" -

Randy Bachman Randolph Charles Bachman (; born September 27, 1943) is a Canadian guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He was a founding member of the bands The Guess Who and Bachman–Turner Overdrive. Bachman recorded as a solo artist and was part of a n ...

on '' Heavy Blues''

Guest singles

Guest appearances on soundtracks

*2002: '' NBA on ABC'' – "We Got Hoops" *2004: ''

ATV Offroad Fury 3 ''ATV Offroad Fury 3'' is a racing video game developed by Climax Racing and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for PlayStation 2. The game was succeeded by ''ATV Offroad Fury 4'' in 2006. Gameplay Expanding from its predecessor, ''ATV ...

'' – "Squeeze" *2006: '' NBA Live 07'' – "Thrill of It" *2007: ''

Grey's Anatomy ''Grey's Anatomy'' is an American medical drama television series that premiered on March 27, 2005, on ABC as a mid-season replacement. The series focuses on the lives of surgical interns, residents, and attendings as they develop into ...

'' – "Ain't Nothing Wrong with That" *2007: '' Stomp the Yard'' – "Ain't Nothing Wrong with That"

Other appearances

In 1999, Arhoolie Records released ''Sacred Steel – Live!'' including performances recorded live in two House of God churches in 1998 and 1999, one of which was Robert Randolph performing "Without God". In 2001, they released ''Train Don't Leave Me: The 1st Annual Sacred Steel Convention'' including performances recorded live March 31–April 1, 2000, one of which was Robert Randolph performing "I Feel Like Pressing My Way". In 2002, they released ''Recorded Live At The 2nd Sacred Steel Convention'' including performances recorded live March 30–31, 2001, one of which was Robert Randolph performing "You've Got To Move". In 2004, Robert Randolph and the Family Band covered "

" for the album '' Power of Soul: A Tribute to Jimi Hendrix''. 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''.

Music videos

References

External links

*
Robert Randolph and the Family Band collection
at the

Internet Archive The Internet Archive is an American digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It provides free public access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, software applications/games, music ...

's live music archive
Interview: Robert Randolph
December 28, 2006
Interview with Robert Randolph
Ace Weekly, October 17, 2010
"Pedal power: Can Robert Randolph steel success?"
The Hook No. 515, April 13, 2006 {{DEFAULTSORT:Randolph And The Family Band, Robert American funk musical groups American soul musical groups Funk rock musical groups Jam bands Jammy Award winners Warner Records artists Randolph, Robert Provogue Records artists