Robert Randolph & the Family Band
Encyclopedia
Robert Randolph and the Family Band is a multicultural American
funk
and soul
band led by pedal steel guitar
ist Robert Randolph. Other band members include drummer
Marcus Randolph, bass guitar
ist Danyel Morgan, vocalist Lenesha Randolph, keyboardist
and guitar
ist Brett Andrew Haas, and one of three rotating rhythm guitarists: Joey Williams of Blind Boys of Alabama, Adam "Shmeeans" Smirnoff, and Cousin Ray-Ray. Jason Crosby (keyboards and fiddle) and John Ginty (organ) are former members. Rolling Stone
included Robert on their list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time.
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
.
Randolph cites 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 Band
, Buddy Guy
, Muddy Waters
, none of them. I wasn’t into that music, only the church thing."
Before releasing albums with The Family Band, Randolph was selected by avant-garde 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 The Word's debut album, Randolph was brought to the attention of music fans through an enthusiastic review by Neil Strauss
in the New York Times in April 2001. On their first non-church tour of the East Coast, Randolph's new Family Band 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 #97 on Rolling Stone's
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
'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
.
Their 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 2008 the Discovery Channel
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'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 instruments allowing each member 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 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 the Family Band performed on the David Letterman Show on December 13, 2006, playing the song "Ain't Nothing Wrong With That." 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
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
", "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
. In 2008, They opened for Eric Clapton
and were also one of four featured artists on the Music Builds 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 Led Zeppelin
's "Fool In The Rain" with the band O.A.R.
.
" 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
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
and soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
band led by pedal steel guitar
Pedal steel guitar
The pedal steel guitar is a type of electric guitar that uses a metal bar to "fret" or shorten the length of the strings, rather than fingers on strings as with a conventional guitar. Unlike other types of steel guitar, it also uses pedals and knee levers to affect the pitch, hence the name "pedal"...
ist Robert Randolph. Other band members include drummer
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
Marcus Randolph, bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
ist Danyel Morgan, vocalist Lenesha Randolph, keyboardist
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
and guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
ist Brett Andrew Haas, and one of three rotating rhythm guitarists: Joey Williams of Blind Boys of Alabama, Adam "Shmeeans" Smirnoff, and Cousin Ray-Ray. Jason Crosby (keyboards and fiddle) and John Ginty (organ) are former members. Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
included Robert on their list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time.
Band history
Frontman Robert Randolph was trained as a pedal steel guitarPedal steel guitar
The pedal steel guitar is a type of electric guitar that uses a metal bar to "fret" or shorten the length of the strings, rather than fingers on strings as with a conventional guitar. Unlike other types of steel guitar, it also uses pedals and knee levers to affect the pitch, hence the name "pedal"...
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
Sacred Steel (musical tradition)
Sacred steel is a musical style and African-American gospel tradition that developed in House of God churches in the 1930s. Members and nonmembers refer to the church as the House of God. Its full name is the House of God Which Is the Church of the Living God the Pillar and Ground of the Truth...
. Randolph was discovered while playing at a sacred steel convention in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
.
Randolph cites Stevie Ray Vaughan
Stevie Ray Vaughan
Stephen Ray "Stevie Ray" Vaughan was an American electric blues guitarist and singer. He was the younger brother of Jimmie Vaughan and frontman for Double Trouble, a band that included bassist Tommy Shannon and drummer Chris Layton. Born in Dallas, Vaughan moved to Austin at the age of 17 and...
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
Earth, Wind & Fire
Earth, Wind & Fire is an American soul and R&B band formed in Chicago, Illinois, in 1969 by Verdine and Maurice White. Also known as EWF, the band has won six Grammy Awards and four American Music Awards. They have been inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of...
and Sly & the Family Stone
Sly & the Family Stone
Sly and the Family Stone were an American rock, funk, and soul band from San Francisco, California. Active from 1966 to 1983, the band was pivotal in the development of soul, funk, and psychedelic music...
, 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 Band
The Allman Brothers Band
The Allman Brothers Band is an American rock/blues band once based in Macon, Georgia. The band was formed in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1969 by brothers Duane Allman and Gregg Allman , who were supported by Dickey Betts , Berry Oakley , Butch Trucks , and Jai Johanny "Jaimoe"...
, Buddy Guy
Buddy Guy
George "Buddy" Guy is an American blues and jazz guitarist and singer. He is a critically acclaimed artist who has established himself as a pioneer of the Chicago blues sound, and has served as an influence to some of the most notable musicians of his generation...
, Muddy Waters
Muddy Waters
McKinley Morganfield , known as Muddy Waters, was an American blues musician, generally considered the "father of modern Chicago blues"...
, none of them. I wasn’t into that music, only the church thing."
Before releasing albums with The Family Band, Randolph was selected by avant-garde jazz organist John Medeski
John Medeski
Anthony John Medeski is an American jazz keyboards 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...
to join him and the North Mississippi Allstars
North Mississippi Allstars
North Mississippi Allstars is a Southern rock/blues jam band from Hernando, Mississippi, founded in 1996. The band is composed of brothers Luther Dickinson and Cody Dickinson , and Chris Chew...
on their 2001 jam project, The Word
The Word (band)
The Word is an instrumental jazz rock/Sacred steel/gospel blues/Southern rock jam band. The supergroup included well-known musicians: Robert Randolph , John Medeski , and all three members of North Mississippi Allstars - Luther Dickinson , Cody Dickinson , and Chris Chew .The Word developed from a...
. Just prior to the release of The Word's debut album, Randolph was brought to the attention of music fans through an enthusiastic review by Neil Strauss
Neil Strauss
Neil Darrow Strauss , also known by the pen names Style and Chris Powles, is an American and Kittitian author, journalist and ghostwriter...
in the New York Times in April 2001. On their first non-church tour of the East Coast, Randolph's new Family Band 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
Live at the Wetlands
-Personnel:*Robert Randolph – Pedal Steel Guitar, Guitar, Vocals*John Ginty – B-3 Organ*Danyel Morgan – Bass Guitar, Vocals*Marcus Randolph – Drums...
, 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
Unclassified (album)
-Track listing:# "Going in the Right Direction" – 3:32# "I Need More Love" – 3:42# "Nobody" – 4:32# "Soul Refreshing" – 3:41# "Squeeze" – 5:46# "Smile" – 4:53# "Good Times " – 3:47# "Why Should I Feel Lonely" – 4:25# "Calypso" – 4:07...
on August 5, 2003. They attracted the attention of Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton
Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE, is an English guitarist and singer-songwriter. Clapton is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of The Yardbirds and Cream. Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important and...
, and have subsequently toured as a supporting act with the English blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
guitarist. Clapton later guested on their 2006 album Colorblind
Colorblind (Robert Randolph album)
Colorblind is an album by Robert Randolph & the Family Band. It is the group's second studio album.-Track listing:# "Ain't Nothing Wrong With That" - 3:30# "Deliver Me" – 4:30# "Diane" – 3:28# "Angels" – 4:02# "Jesus Is Just Alright" – 5:26...
, playing on a cover of "Jesus Is Just Alright
Jesus Is Just Alright
"Jesus Is Just Alright" is a gospel song written by Arthur Reid Reynolds and first recorded by Reynolds' own group, The Art Reynolds Singers, on their 1966 album, Tellin' It Like It Is....
".
In 2002, they were hired by ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
to make the network's new NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
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 #97 on Rolling Stone's
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time list. Robert entered the list following Leigh Stephens
Leigh Stephens
Leigh Stephens is an American guitarist and songwriter.Stephens became famous as the former lead guitarist of the San Francisco psychedelic rock group Blue Cheer. He was ranked number 98 on Rolling Stone Magazine's list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time. He has claimed to have been the...
and directly preceding Angus Young
Angus Young
Angus McKinnon Young is a Scottish-born Australian musician, and the lead guitarist, songwriter, and co-founder of the rock and roll band AC/DC. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame along with other members of AC/DC in 2003 and is known for his energetic performances,...
. In February 2004 Robert Randolph and the Family Band along with the band O.A.R.
Of a Revolution
O.A.R. is an American rock band composed of Marc Roberge , Chris Culos , Richard On , Benj Gershman , and Jerry DePizzo...
released a cover version of Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
's "Fool in the Rain
Fool in the Rain
"Fool in the Rain" is a song on English rock band Led Zeppelin's 1979 album, In Through the Out Door. It was the final U.S. single released during the band's tenure, reaching number 21 on the Billboard Hot 100 in February 1980.-Overview:...
", which was subsequently placed for purchase online in the iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
Music Store. This version was played live with O.A.R.
Of a Revolution
O.A.R. is an American rock band composed of Marc Roberge , Chris Culos , Richard On , Benj Gershman , and Jerry DePizzo...
at their August 15, 2009 show at Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
.
Their third album, Colorblind
Colorblind (Robert Randolph album)
Colorblind is an album by Robert Randolph & the Family Band. It is the group's second studio album.-Track listing:# "Ain't Nothing Wrong With That" - 3:30# "Deliver Me" – 4:30# "Diane" – 3:28# "Angels" – 4:02# "Jesus Is Just Alright" – 5:26...
, was released October 10, 2006. The song "Ain't Nothing Wrong With That" was used in several commercials for NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
. In June 2008 the Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel is an American satellite and cable specialty channel , founded by John Hendricks and distributed by Discovery Communications. It is a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav...
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
T-Bone Burnett
Joseph Henry Burnett , widely known as T-Bone Burnett, is an American musician, songwriter, and soundtrack and record producer.He was a guitarist in Bob Dylan's band on the Rolling Thunder Revue...
on their fourth studio album We Walk This Road
We Walk This Road
-iTunes bonus tracks:# "Take My Hand" - 3:51# "Don't Let the Devil Ride" - 4:23# "Memphis Beat" - 3:34-Personnel:* Danyel Morgan – Bass, vocals* Marcus Randolph – Drums, background vocals* Robert Randolph – Guitar, pedal steel guitar, vocals...
, 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."
Live appearances
Other noteworthy concert regulars involve the entire band trading instruments allowing each member 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
Pedal steel guitar
The pedal steel guitar is a type of electric guitar that uses a metal bar to "fret" or shorten the length of the strings, rather than fingers on strings as with a conventional guitar. Unlike other types of steel guitar, it also uses pedals and knee levers to affect the pitch, hence the name "pedal"...
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
"Purple Haze" is a song written in 1966 and recorded in 1967 by The Jimi Hendrix Experience and released as a single in both the United Kingdom and the United States. It appeared on their 1967 album Are You Experienced...
") or be a guest guitarist for one song.
Eric Clapton
Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE, is an English guitarist and singer-songwriter. Clapton is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of The Yardbirds and Cream. Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important and...
tour. They are featured prominently in the Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival
Crossroads Guitar Festival
The Crossroads Guitar Festival is a music festival and benefit concert first held in 2004 and again in 2007 and 2010. The festivals benefit the Crossroads Centre founded by Eric Clapton, a drug treatment center located in Antigua. The concerts are also intended to be a showcase for a variety of...
DVD (2004). The band also appears on Bonnaroo Music Festival
Bonnaroo Music Festival
The Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival is an annual four day music festival created and produced by Superfly Productions and AC Entertainment, held at Great Stage Park on a 700-acre farm in Manchester, Tennessee. It hosted its tenth annual event June 9–12, 2011...
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 the Family Band performed on the David Letterman Show on December 13, 2006, playing the song "Ain't Nothing Wrong With That." 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
Dave Matthews Band, sometimes shortened to DMB, is a U.S. rock band formed in Charlottesville, Virginia in 1991. The founding members were singer-songwriter and guitarist Dave Matthews, bassist Stefan Lessard, drummer/backing vocalist Carter Beauford and saxophonist LeRoi Moore. Boyd Tinsley was...
for some shows on their 2002-09 tours. In 2005 Robert Randolph appeared on the Dave Matthews Band release Weekend on the Rocks
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 CDs and one DVD. However, a complete recording of the four...
. 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
"All Along the Watchtower" is a song written and recorded by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan. The song, which has been included on most of Dylan's greatest hits compilations, initially appeared on his 1967 album John Wesley Harding. Over the past 35 years, he has performed it in concert more...
", "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
South Padre International Music Festival 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 including country, funk, reggae, rock, indie, Latin rock, ska and jazz...
. In 2008, They opened for Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton
Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE, is an English guitarist and singer-songwriter. Clapton is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of The Yardbirds and Cream. Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important and...
and were also one of four featured artists on the Music Builds Tour
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. - Switchfoot drummer Chad Butler...
. 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 Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
's "Fool In The Rain" with the band O.A.R.
Of a Revolution
O.A.R. is an American rock band composed of Marc Roberge , Chris Culos , Richard On , Benj Gershman , and Jerry DePizzo...
.
Soundtrack appearances
- Paparazzi - "Going in the Right Direction"
- The Game PlanThe Game Plan (film)The Game Plan is a 2007 family comedy film directed by Andy Fickman and starring The Rock. This is the last film in which Johnson uses his ring name "The Rock." This is also the last Disney film to be distributed by Buena Vista, due to Disney semi-retiring the name in May 2007, making all other...
- "Ain't Nothing Wrong with That" - Stomp the YardStomp the YardStomp the Yard is a 2007 drama and dance film produced by Rainforest Films and released through Sony Pictures' Screen Gems division on January 12, 2007. Directed by Sylvain White, Stomp the Yard centers around DJ Williams, a college student at a fictional historically Black university who pledges...
- "Ain't Nothing Wrong with That" - Grey's AnatomyGrey's Anatomy (soundtrack)Grey's Anatomy Original Soundtrack is the soundtrack album series for the television series Grey's Anatomy, with three volumes released in the series...
- "Ain't Nothing Wrong with That" - NBA on ABC - "We Got Hoops"
- Saturday Night Football - "Thrill of It"
- NBA Live 07NBA Live 07NBA Live 07 is a video game released on the Xbox, Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, and PC by EA Sports. The product features Tracy McGrady of the Houston Rockets on the cover. In the Spanish version Pau Gasol is featured.-Features:...
- "Thrill of It" - Malcolm in the MiddleMalcolm in the MiddleMalcolm in the Middle is an American television sitcom created by Linwood Boomer for the Fox Network. The series was first broadcast on January 9, 2000, and ended its six-and-a-half-year run on May 14, 2006, after seven seasons and 151 episodes...
- "Going in the Right Direction" - A series of Subway restaurantSubway (restaurant)Subway is an American restaurant franchise that primarily sells submarine sandwiches and salads. It is owned and operated by Doctor's Associates, Inc. . Subway is one of the fastest growing franchises in the world with 35,519 restaurants in 98 countries and territories as of October 25th, 2011...
commercials - "Ain't Nothing Wrong with That" - Discovery ChannelDiscovery ChannelDiscovery Channel is an American satellite and cable specialty channel , founded by John Hendricks and distributed by Discovery Communications. It is a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav...
- "Ain't Nothing Wrong with That"
Guest appearances
- "Garden of Love" and "Opportunity" - Demolition String Band on Pulling Up Atlantis
- "Oh My Lord" - Ringo StarrRingo StarrRichard Starkey, MBE better known by his stage name Ringo Starr, is an English musician and actor who gained worldwide fame as the drummer for The Beatles. When the band formed in 1960, Starr was a member of another Liverpool band, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. He became The Beatles' drummer in...
on Choose LoveChoose LoveChoose Love is the 13th studio album by Ringo Starr, released in 2005. Recorded throughout 2004 into 2005, the album received strong reviews upon its release and preceded another promotional tour with Starr and his studio band, called "The Roundheads".... - "Trinity" - SantanaCarlos SantanaCarlos Augusto Alves Santana is a Mexican rock guitarist. Santana became famous in the late 1960s and early 1970s with his band, Santana, which pioneered rock, salsa and jazz fusion...
and Kirk HammettKirk HammettKirk Lee Hammett is the lead guitarist and a songwriter in the heavy metal band Metallica and has been a member of the band since 1983. Before joining Metallica he formed and named the band Exodus. In 2003, Hammett was ranked 11th on Rolling Stones list of The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time...
of MetallicaMetallicaMetallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
on All That I Am - "I Am an Illusion" - Rob ThomasRob Thomas (musician)Robert Kelly "Rob" Thomas is an American rock recording artist and songwriter. He is the primary songwriter and lead singer of the band Matchbox Twenty. Thomas also records and performs as a solo artist...
on ...Something to Be...Something to Be...Something to Be is the debut solo album from the Matchbox Twenty lead singer Rob Thomas. The album was released in 2005, and it debuted at #1 on the U.S. Billboard 200 albums chart, knocking out Mariah Carey's The Emancipation of Mimi... - "Mas Y Mas" - Los LobosLos LobosLos Lobos are a multiple Grammy Award–winning American Chicano rock band from East Los Angeles, California. Their music is influenced by rock and roll, Tex-Mex, country, folk, R&B, blues, brown-eyed soul, and traditional Spanish and Mexican music such as cumbia, boleros and norteños.-History:The...
on Live at the FillmoreLive at the Fillmore (Los Lobos album)Live at the Fillmore, is the first live album by American group Los Lobos. It was recorded 29th and 30 July 2004 at The Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco...
(DVD version) - "Mission Temple Fireworks Stand" - Sawyer BrownSawyer BrownSawyer Brown is an American country music band founded in 1981 in Apopka, Florida, by five members of country pop singer Don King's road band: Bobby Randall and Jim Scholten , both from Midland, Michigan; Joe Smyth , Gregg "Hobie" Hubbard , and Mark Miller...
on Mission Temple Fireworks StandMission Temple Fireworks StandMission Temple Fireworks Stand is the fifteenth studio album by the American country music band Sawyer Brown. Their first studio album since Can You Hear Me Now three years previous, it produced three singles. The first of these, which was the title track, was a collaboration with Robert Randolph... - "Out in the Woods" and "That's My Home" - Buddy GuyBuddy GuyGeorge "Buddy" Guy is an American blues and jazz guitarist and singer. He is a critically acclaimed artist who has established himself as a pioneer of the Chicago blues sound, and has served as an influence to some of the most notable musicians of his generation...
on Skin DeepSkin Deep (Buddy Guy album)Skin Deep is a 2008 album by blues musician Buddy Guy.The albums features a number of collaborations including: Eric Clapton, Derek Trucks, Susan Tedeschi, and Robert Randolph.-Background:... - "The Good Life" - Rachael LampaRachael LampaRachael Maureen Lampa is a Dove award winning American Christian singer-songwriter, record producer, and occasional actress. She rose to fame in 2000 with her debut album Live For You, winning a Dove Award as well as achieving four number one singles including "Blessed", "Shaken", "God Loves You",...
on Rachael LampaRachael Lampa (album)Rachael Lampa is the self-titled third album from Christian pop singer Rachael Lampa, released in 2004 on Word Records.-Track listing:-Singles:*"When I Fall"... - "Lay Lady LayLay Lady Lay"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 high nasal singing style associated with his earlier recordings...
" - Buddy GuyBuddy GuyGeorge "Buddy" Guy is an American blues and jazz guitarist and singer. He is a critically acclaimed artist who has established himself as a pioneer of the Chicago blues sound, and has served as an influence to some of the most notable musicians of his generation...
on Bring 'Em InBring 'Em In (Buddy Guy album)Bring 'Em In is a 2005 album released by Buddy Guy. He has since released a box set consisting of three CDs and a DVD of music spanning his career... - "Crosstown TrafficCrosstown Traffic (song)"Crosstown Traffic" is a song written by Jimi Hendrix. It was the second single released from the album Electric Ladyland by The Jimi Hendrix Experience...
" - SouliveSouliveSoulive is a funk/jazz trio that originated in Woodstock, New York, and is known for its solos and catchy, upbeat songs. The band consists of Eric Krasno , Alan Evans , Neal Evans...
on Break Out - "Cissy Strut", "Ruler of My Heart" and "Tell It Like It Is" - Dirty Dozen Brass BandDirty Dozen Brass BandThe Dirty Dozen Brass Band is a New Orleans, Louisiana, brass band. The ensemble was established in 1977 by Benny Jones together with members of the Tornado Brass Band...
on Medicated Magic - "Train's A Comin'" - JD & The Straight ShotJD & The Straight ShotJD & The Straight Shot is a blues band from New York. JD is actually James L. Dolan, Chairman of Cablevision Systems Corporation and Chairman of Madison Square Garden, Inc....
on Right On Time - "Exodus" and "Louisiana Bayou" - Dave Matthews BandDave Matthews BandDave Matthews Band, sometimes shortened to DMB, is a U.S. rock band formed in Charlottesville, Virginia in 1991. The founding members were singer-songwriter and guitarist Dave Matthews, bassist Stefan Lessard, drummer/backing vocalist Carter Beauford and saxophonist LeRoi Moore. Boyd Tinsley was...
on Complete Weekend on the Rocks - "Otherside" - Third DayThird DayThird Day is a Grammy award-winning Christian rock band formed in Marietta, Georgia during the 1990s. The band was founded by lead singer Mac Powell, guitarist Mark Lee and former member Billy Wilkins. The other band members are bassist Tai Anderson and drummer David Carr...
on Revelation - "I Want to Take You HigherI Want to Take You Higher"I Want to Take You Higher" is a 1969 song by the soul/rock/funk band Sly & 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; instead, it is simply dedicated to music and the feeling one...
" - Sly & The Family StoneSly & the Family StoneSly and the Family Stone were an American rock, funk, and soul band from San Francisco, California. Active from 1966 to 1983, the band was pivotal in the development of soul, funk, and psychedelic music...
on Different Strokes by Different Folks - "There's No Tomorrow" - Elton JohnElton JohnSir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
& Leon RussellLeon RussellClaude Russell Bridges , known professionally as Leon Russell, is an American musician and songwriter, who has recorded as a session musician, sideman, and maintained a solo career in music....
on The Union
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 First 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 2004, Robert Randolph and the Family Band covered "Purple HazePurple Haze
"Purple Haze" is a song written in 1966 and recorded in 1967 by The Jimi Hendrix Experience and released as a single in both the United Kingdom and the United States. It appeared on their 1967 album Are You Experienced...
" for the album Power of Soul: A Tribute to Jimi Hendrix
Power of Soul: A Tribute to Jimi Hendrix
Power of Soul: A Tribute to Jimi Hendrix is a 2004 tribute album featuring various artists performing the music of Jimi Hendrix.-Track listing:...
. In 2009, Robert Randolph, along with The Clark Sisters
The Clark Sisters
The Clark Sisters are an American gospel vocal group consisting of four sisters:Jacky Clark Chisholm, Elbernita "Twinkie" Clark, Dorinda Clark-Cole, and Karen Clark Sheard. A fifth sister, Denise Clark Bradford, no longer performs with the group. The Clark Sisters are the daughters of legendary...
, released a version of the song “Higher Ground” on the compilation album Oh Happy Day: An All-Star Music Celebration
Oh Happy Day: An All-Star Music Celebration
"Some of secular music's top acts -- among them Queen Latifah, Jon Bon Jovi, Joss Stone and 3 Doors Down -- take a walk on the spiritual side for Oh Happy Day: An All-Star Music Celebration."...
.
Discography
- Live at the WetlandsLive at the Wetlands-Personnel:*Robert Randolph – Pedal Steel Guitar, Guitar, Vocals*John Ginty – B-3 Organ*Danyel Morgan – Bass Guitar, Vocals*Marcus Randolph – Drums...
, April 2002 - UnclassifiedUnclassified (album)-Track listing:# "Going in the Right Direction" – 3:32# "I Need More Love" – 3:42# "Nobody" – 4:32# "Soul Refreshing" – 3:41# "Squeeze" – 5:46# "Smile" – 4:53# "Good Times " – 3:47# "Why Should I Feel Lonely" – 4:25# "Calypso" – 4:07...
, August 2003. U.S. #145 - ColorblindColorblind (Robert Randolph album)Colorblind is an album by Robert Randolph & the Family Band. It is the group's second studio album.-Track listing:# "Ain't Nothing Wrong With That" - 3:30# "Deliver Me" – 4:30# "Diane" – 3:28# "Angels" – 4:02# "Jesus Is Just Alright" – 5:26...
, October 2006. U.S. #75 - We Walk This RoadWe Walk This Road-iTunes bonus tracks:# "Take My Hand" - 3:51# "Don't Let the Devil Ride" - 4:23# "Memphis Beat" - 3:34-Personnel:* Danyel Morgan – Bass, vocals* Marcus Randolph – Drums, background vocals* Robert Randolph – Guitar, pedal steel guitar, vocals...
, June 2010. U.S. #74 - Live In Concert, October 2011
Guest singles
| Year | Single | Artist | Chart positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country | ||||
| 2004 | "Mission Temple Fireworks Stand" | Sawyer Brown Sawyer Brown Sawyer Brown is an American country music band founded in 1981 in Apopka, Florida, by five members of country pop singer Don King's road band: Bobby Randall and Jim Scholten , both from Midland, Michigan; Joe Smyth , Gregg "Hobie" Hubbard , and Mark Miller... |
55 | Mission Temple Fireworks Stand |
Music videos
| Year | Video | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | "Mission Temple Fireworks Stand" (w/ Sawyer Brown Sawyer Brown Sawyer Brown is an American country music band founded in 1981 in Apopka, Florida, by five members of country pop singer Don King's road band: Bobby Randall and Jim Scholten , both from Midland, Michigan; Joe Smyth , Gregg "Hobie" Hubbard , and Mark Miller... ) |
Shaun Silva Shaun Silva Shaun Silva is a music video director who works primarily in the country music field. He has directed a number of music videos for many country music artists, including many of Kenny Chesney's music videos. His other clients include: Jack Ingram, Sugarland, Luke Bryan, Brooks & Dunn, and Rascal... |
External links
- Official Robert Randolph and the Family Band website
- Robert Randolph and the Family Band collection at the Internet ArchiveInternet ArchiveThe Internet Archive is a non-profit digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It offers permanent storage and access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, music, moving images, and nearly 3 million public domain books. The Internet Archive...
's live music archive - Interview: Robert Randolph December 28, 2006
- "Pedal power: Can Robert Randolph steel success?" The Hook #515, April 13, 2006