Local Boy makes good-Robert Randolph

Jan Dunn · Post by **Jan Dunn** » 8 Nov 2002 8:13 am

This month's New Jersey Monthly Magazine (of course its not readily available outside the NYC area) has a feature article on Robert as he grew up in Irvington and now lives in Morristown. The magazine's website usually reproduces the main articles but at present has the October issue up. As for the obligatory instrument comment, he's shown playing a blue S12 Fessy.

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 8 Nov 2002 8:51 am

I believe RR's current Fessy is purple!

What's the magazine's URL?[This message was edited by Jim Smith on 08 November 2002 at 08:52 AM.]

Jan Dunn · Post by **Jan Dunn** » 8 Nov 2002 9:03 am

http://www.njmonthly.com/issues/Oct02/octmain.shtm

though I'm guessing it'll change for the November issue. A google search for New Jersey Monthly will get you there.

Terry Wendt · Post by **Terry Wendt** » 8 Nov 2002 7:37 pm

Robert plays a purple 13 string Fessy

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TheEarlyDays.com

and appearing regularly...
Jimmy Crawford/Russ Hicks... and Buddy Emmons on Bass! aLotOfSpace.com

John Vaughan · Post by **John Vaughan** » 9 Nov 2002 1:16 am

http://www.njmonthly.com/issues/Nov02/novmain.shtm

November issue but it says the story on Robert is only in the street edition. Here's Robert's web site: http://www.robertrandolph.net/

JV

Johan Jansen · Post by **Johan Jansen** » 9 Nov 2002 4:19 am

This article was in Rolling Stone. nov.7

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Robert Randolph's Sacred Sounds

The new jam-fan fave plays a mean pedal-steel

Churchgoer, Stevie Ray Vaughan fan

"If I tell somebody I'm a musician, even if I've got a guitar in my hands, they'll think it's hip-hop," says Robert Randolph -- just because he's black and wears his hair in cornrows. "I tell people I play positive soul rock. When you say rock, people think it's loud and obnoxious -- they don't think it's going to make you feel good." Randolph makes people feel good: He's a twenty-four-year-old pedal steel guitar player who got his chops playing "sacred steel," the music of his Pentecostal congregation at the House of God Church in Orange, New Jersey. Randolph's debut, Live at the Wetlands, was just rereleased by Warner Bros. Until last year, most members of Randolph's family had never seen him perform outside of church -- they didn't want to set foot in the nightclubs where he was collecting jam-band fans. The first secular performance they saw of his was at Madison Square Garden, opening for Dave Matthews Band in front of 10,000 people.
The first rock musician Randolph heard who really spoke to him was Stevie Ray Vaughan; when Randolph started playing "Voodoo Chile" live, he didn't even know Jimi Hendrix's original version. He still thinks that Vaughan is Hendrix's superior and underlines his point with a basketball analogy: "Dr. J flew through the air, but Michael Jordan was the king." Randolph? He just might be Kobe Bryant.

GAVIN EDWARDS
(October 21, 2002)

Matt Steindl · Post by **Matt Steindl** » 9 Nov 2002 8:35 am

Just saw that they are charging $45 for tickets to RR a Tipitinas next month. This is a venue where you can see great bands for $10-$20 dollars. Just saw wilco there for $18 2 nights ago. I dont see them selling too many $45 tckts to this guy who doesnt even have a major label release.

This isnt a personal slam on RR, but someone apparently thinks a lot of him! I was shocked!!!!!!

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Mattman in "The Big Sleazy"-:
S-10 Dekley, Suitcase Fender Rhodes, B-bender Les Paul

Terry Wendt · Post by **Terry Wendt** » 9 Nov 2002 12:09 pm

Not only will they sell the tickets... but everyone in attendance will have a great time!

Matt Steindl · Post by **Matt Steindl** » 9 Nov 2002 2:18 pm

I dont think it will sell out. We are a fickle lot here in New Orleans(Nashville too!), as any night of the week, there is always serious competition for your entertainment dollars. I will let ya know how well it sells.

By the way, any idea when the Austin City Limits w/ RR airs?

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Mattman in "The Big Sleazy"-:
S-10 Dekley, Suitcase Fender Rhodes, B-bender Les Paul

Dan Tyack · Post by **Dan Tyack** » 9 Nov 2002 4:12 pm

I don't know, maybe Robert picked up a few fans in New Orleans from his featured guest appearence on the Dirty Dozen Brass Band's latest release (I understand those guys have a few fans in that town).

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www.tyack.com

David Cobb · Post by **David Cobb** » 9 Nov 2002 5:59 pm

From what I can tell, R.Randolph should appear with his band on the Dec 21st edition of Austin City Limits. Also appearing are the Blind Boys of Alabama (that's four, old, yep you got it, blind black dudes from the deep South). Saw 'em on Letterman the other night and they were pretty good. Their backup band was getting some very nice tone out of those Fender Strats. go to www.pbs.org/klru/austin/tvschedule

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David Cobb, 1992 Emmons Legrande 8&5,BlueTubeII,TubeWorks RT921Reverb,Stewart World 1.2 poweramp,Black Widow/Steelers Choice cabs,Pro-Fex II/Lemay mods.

Jan Dunn · Post by **Jan Dunn** » 12 Nov 2002 7:16 am

By the way, in the article there's a picture of him playing and it looks like he uses a Stevens bar..

David Doggett · Post by **David Doggett** » 12 Nov 2002 2:06 pm

Robert and many of the other Sacred Steelers use grooved bars. Their guitars are tuned in open E (or like open E), usually with only a flatted 7th being out of the chord. So they play like a non-pedal steel, with a lot of tap ons and offs and lightening fast single string bar work, and use the pedals and knees very sparingly. With the extra low strings they can do power chord strums and bass lines. They have invented a whole new style of steel guitar, Gospel-Blues, to add to all the other styles like straight steel, Nashville pedal-steel, C6 western swing steel, Hawaiian steel, etc. Ain't this a great instrument!

Matt Steindl · Post by **Matt Steindl** » 14 Nov 2002 9:45 am

Just realized that the RR show that is listed as $45, is a New Years Eve show. That kinda justifies the high price a bit more.

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Mattman in "The Big Sleazy"-:
S-10 Dekley, Suitcase Fender Rhodes, B-bender Les Paul

Stephen LeBlanc · Post by **Stephen LeBlanc** » 14 Nov 2002 9:51 am

Just realized that the RR show that is listed as $45, is a New Years Eve show. That kinda justifies the high price a bit more.

Definitely...that's cheap for a NYE show.