Duke Robillard & His All Star Band

Biography

Duke Robillard, born Michael John Robillard on October 4, 1948, in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, is a distinguished American blues guitarist, vocalist, songwriter, and bandleader who has spent over five decades mastering blues, jazz, swing, jump blues, and roots rock. His early influences came from rock pioneers like Chuck Berry and Buddy Holly, discovered through his older brother's record collection, which inspired him to craft his first guitar with his father, modeled after James Burton's Fender Telecaster. In 1967, Robillard co-founded Roomful of Blues with pianist Al Copley in Westerly, Rhode Island, a band that became a regional sensation known for its jump blues style and played a pivotal role in reviving the genre. The band released two albums on Rounder Records and gave Robillard his first exposure to a wide public before he left in 1979.

After departing Roomful of Blues, Robillard's career trajectory expanded significantly as he played with rockabilly singer Robert Gordon and the Legendary Blues Band—a sterling collection of former members of Muddy Waters' band—before forming the Duke Robillard Band in 1981, which later evolved into Duke Robillard & the Pleasure Kings. In 1990, he replaced Jimmie Vaughan in The Fabulous Thunderbirds, further showcasing his adaptability and skill. Throughout his career, Robillard has collaborated with iconic artists including Bob Dylan (appearing on his 1997 Grammy-winning album Time Out of Mind), Tom Waits, and jazz guitarist Herb Ellis, while also releasing numerous acclaimed solo albums such as "Duke's Blues" (1993) and "Blue Mood: The Songs of T-Bone Walker" (2004).

Robillard's exceptional contributions to blues and jazz have earned him multiple accolades, including Grammy nominations for Best Contemporary Blues Album and Best Traditional Blues Album, the W.C. Handy Award (now Blues Music Award) for Best Blues Guitarist in 2000, 2001, 2003, and 2004, and the Keeping the Blues Alive Award for Producer of the Year in 2004. With 37 of his own albums plus contributions to dozens more with other artists, he has been inducted into the Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame and is ranked among the world's best blues artists by Downbeat and Living Blues. BB King himself called Duke "one of the great players," while the New York Times described him as "a soloist of stunning force and originality."

Fun Facts

• Robillard discovered the horn-driven energy of 'jump blues' in 1970 through Buddy Johnson's classic LP 'Rock'n Roll,' which inspired him to reform Roomful of Blues with a three-piece horn section and reshape the band's musical direction.
• He is an avid collector of rare 78-rpm records, a hobby he has maintained since the 1970s, and considers discussing his collection 'a story in itself.'
• After leaving Roomful of Blues in 1979, Robillard was put on a retainer with rockabilly singer Robert Gordon but found the musical hiatus disagreeable after working 5-7 nights a week for the previous 10 years, leading him to form the Duke Robillard & the Pleasure Kings trio to maintain his performing momentum.
• Robillard appeared on Bob Dylan's 1997 album 'Time Out of Mind,' which won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year, demonstrating his recognition among music's highest echelons.

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Chuck Berry - Early rock influence discovered through older brother's record collection (Rock and roll recordings) [1960s discovery]
• Buddy Holly - Early rock influence discovered through older brother's record collection (Rock and roll recordings) [1960s discovery]
• James Burton - Guitar style influence; Robillard modeled his first guitar after Burton's Fender Telecaster (Fender Telecaster playing style) [1960s]
• Charlie Christian - Texas jazz master whose jazzier influences emerged strongly in Robillard's playing (Jazz guitar style) [1980s onward]
• Herb Ellis - Texas jazz master whose jazzier influences emerged strongly in Robillard's playing (Jazz guitar style) [1980s onward]
• Louis Jordan - Musical era inspiration that led Robillard to add horns to Roomful of Blues and develop jump blues style (Jump blues and swing recordings) [1970s development]

Key Collaborators

• Al Copley - Co-founder and pianist of Roomful of Blues (Roomful of Blues albums) [1967-1979]
• Robert Gordon - Rockabilly singer whose band Robillard joined after leaving Roomful of Blues (Robert Gordon band) [1979-1981]
• The Legendary Blues Band - Former members of Muddy Waters' bands; Robillard was a member (The Legendary Blues Band recordings) [Early 1980s]
• The Fabulous Thunderbirds - Replaced Jimmie Vaughan as guitarist (The Fabulous Thunderbirds recordings) [1990 onward]
• Bob Dylan - Toured together and Robillard appeared on Dylan's album (Time Out of Mind (1997)) [1997 and touring]
• Tom Waits - Toured together (Live performances) [Various tours]
• Herb Ellis - Formed a duo with jazz guitarist (Jazz duo recordings) [Early 2000s]
• J. Geils - Member of The J. Geils Band; part of New Guitar Summit swing trio (New Guitar Summit) [Early 2000s]
• Gerry Beaudoin - Part of New Guitar Summit swing trio (New Guitar Summit) [Early 2000s]
• Big Joe Turner - Blues hero whom Roomful of Blues accompanied on record and in live appearances (Roomful of Blues recordings and performances) [1970s]
• Eddie 'Cleanhead' Vinson - Blues hero whom Roomful of Blues accompanied on record and in live appearances (Roomful of Blues recordings and performances) [1970s]
• Jimmy Witherspoon - Collaborated with Robillard (Various recordings) [Career span]
• Jay McShann - Collaborated with Robillard (Various recordings) [Career span]
• Johnny Adams - Collaborated with Robillard (Various recordings) [Career span]
• John Hammond - Collaborated with Robillard (Various recordings) [Career span]
• Pinetop Perkins - Collaborated with Robillard (Various recordings) [Career span]

External Links

• Spotify
• [Wikipedia](Not found in search results)