Hopefully as time passes, most of us gain knowledge, wisdom and experience from life. We can use those gems to benefit the people around us as well as ourselves. A musician's life is similar. The old saying: " You have to pay your dues to play the blues" rings so true with the legendary Duke Robbilard. Few bluemen possess the vast resume the "Duke Of The Blues" has under his belt. He is foremost a Guitarist, but he wears many hats. He is a Bandleader, Songwriter, Singer, Producer,Session musician, and an Advocate of the Blues. Awards? Duke has boatloads! The Blues Music Awards (formerly The WC Handy Awards) named Duke "Best Blues Guitarist" in a series of several years (2000, 2001,2003,2004). In 2007 he received a Grammy nomination for "Guitar groove-a-rama" The accolades go on and on, and to tell you the truth, many guys would hang up the guitar for a long while and go soak in sun on a island in the south pacific somewhere . . . Not Duke. That is not how he rolls! Duke is always doing something, touring 250 days a year. A guitarist guitarist, Duke is the favorite and inspiration to many blues and jazz artists. A musician friend of mine told me about Duke Robbilard in the early 1980's. Glad I took his advice and started listening to his stuff with "Roomful Of Blues" a group he formed in 1967 that still is going strong after 40 plus years! After a stay with them, Duke went out on his own with several successful recordings. In 1990 he replaced Jimmy Vaughan in the Fabulous Thunderbirds. In the meantime, his catalog of music continues to grow. Check the list on Duke's official web site, the link is listed below.
However, to experience Duke's guitar style and expertise live is the ultimate! Please do yourself a big favor and go see Duke and his band in a small club near you. Duke's newest CD addition is "Stomp The Blues Tonight" and available on his official web site listed below. The videos posted give you just a taste of what to expect when you see Duke LIVE!
