Robert Randolph

A. J. Schobert · Post by **A. J. Schobert** » 21 Mar 2007 10:15 am

See we are a big happy family don't this feel good!

Brandon Ordoyne · Post by **Brandon Ordoyne** » 21 Mar 2007 12:36 pm

Just got through listening to the Robert Randolph "Colorblind" CD. I am a traditional country/honky-tonk man and I think its some pretty darn good music!

Tony Dingus · Post by **Tony Dingus** » 21 Mar 2007 6:17 pm

Check out the Lee Boys when you get a chance, Roosevelt Collier does some fine sacred steel playing as does RR.

Tony

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 22 Mar 2007 2:08 am

i've always liked the Sacred Steel since i discovered it here on the Fo'
Aubrey Ghent & the Campbell Bros are my favorites
a big tip of the brim to Robert fer bein' quite a showman & gettin' the psg way up front

it's typical to find the future of the psg to show up where one least expects it

Rock Able · Post by **Rock Able** » 22 Mar 2007 5:52 pm

Ok, I finished my beer. I saw RR last month and I've got to tell you, the guy is a performer! He is exposing a whole new audience to a different brand of steel guitar and it ROCKs!

My teenage sons like it and so do I.

Greatest steel guitarist? No.

Greatest steel guitar performer? Maybe.

Fun? You bet.

Bob Ritter · Post by **Bob Ritter** » 22 Mar 2007 6:08 pm

Wonder why Country music has never produced a Steel guitarist fronting the band other than Jr. Brown. But he has that guit-steel contraption that he plays that is totally illogicial(...lol..)...another thing that is somewhat amazing even with Roberts popularty I see no other younger generation rock musicians trying to copy what he is doing....look at six string guitarists fronting bands. All the Way from Bill Haley and Buddy Holly to the Beatles, Jimi, Eric, Jazz,, ( George Benson) contry Vince, and Brad..inspite of Robert and his Success the psg is still for the sideman in the band....02

David Doggett · Post by **David Doggett** » 22 Mar 2007 7:35 pm

Jim Cohen plays pedal steel and fronts his western swing band, Beats Walkin'. He sings a few songs, but even when someone else sings, he kicks it off and somehow directs the whole thing. But that is very rare.

It is very difficult to sing and play steel. Steel is mostly a lead and fill instrument, not much of a rhythm instrument, especially in country. Most singers play rhythm guitar, or play no instrument.

RR can sing because in Sacred Steel music the steel is both a rhythm and lead instrument. Also, he can kick his seat out of the way and stand up and play (like Jerry Lee Lewis did on piano), because he plays a lot in a style with little pedal and lever action. In that style he is basically playing a 13-string lap steel tuned to open E7. It is very effective for blues-rock or R&B-gospel.

Jim Sliff · Post by **Jim Sliff** » 23 Mar 2007 5:21 am

Wonder why Country music has never produced a Steel guitarist fronting the band other than Jr. Brown.

As David said, it's hard to sing and play steel - plus it's very difficult to maintain a huge stage presence playing steel, as opposed to the other "sit down" instruments like key and drums, where you can be more "animated". Junior is playing while standing like a guitarist, wwhich makes a big difference.

Even Joe Wright or Sara Jory, when fronting a band, look out-of-place at times, like they don't quite know what to do with themselves.

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 23 Mar 2007 7:04 am

Well keyboard players can front bands,
and they must look at their hands for tougher solos.

If a steeler can pick and choose his spots
and let the hands rest,and the band take it,
he should have no problem.

Maybe it is the immpression from trying to do
too many tricky slides and sing,
rather than comp chords and sing that makes it seem
so formadible.

Also with headsets it's easier to do these days.

Pete Burak · Post by **Pete Burak** » 23 Mar 2007 7:28 am

Check out this list (see #97):

http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/ ... f_all_time

David Doggett · Post by **David Doggett** » 23 Mar 2007 8:34 am

Before anyone gets bent out of shape about Buddy Emmons and other steelers not being on there besides Robert Randolph, consider that the list is misleadingly named. It should be The Greatest 100 Rock and Blues Guitarists. There are no classical or jazz guitarists, and no country or bluegrass guitarists to speak of. Even in rock or blues, except for a few exceptions for historical monuments, the closer you are to the present, the more likely you are to be on the list. Rolling Stone's lists tend to be that way, because the writers and readers tend to be young, with limited knowledge of the past.

Ben Jones · Post by **Ben Jones** » 23 Mar 2007 9:52 am

those Rolling Stone lists (and the mag as a whole for that matter)are notoriously lame. Kurt Cobain? Great songwriter, one of the top 25 guitarists ever? haha...no. I'm pleased to see punkers like D. Boon (minutemen)made it, and Greg Ginn (black flag) at #99....but top 100 ever?...again no. The Edge over Van Halen? um....no. etc etc.

edit: hahahaha...Joan Jett over Angus Young.!!!

ONe weird thing about RR's popularity Ive noticed. People who claim to be fans still dont know he's playing a PSG. They say "He can really play SLIDE guitar!!" Alot of you guys give lessons. Has anyone seen any new students coming in and mentioning him as an inspiration to take up the instrument? Just wondering cause he's often mentioned as the steel guitars best hope for exposure.

chas smith · Post by **chas smith** » 23 Mar 2007 10:27 am

Back to Robert. "When the tide comes in, all the boats rise."

Eugene Cole · Post by **Eugene Cole** » 23 Mar 2007 2:01 pm

chas smith wrote:"When the tide comes in, all the boats rise."

Well... the sea-worthy boats will rise. LOL

admin · Post by **b0b** » 23 Mar 2007 3:11 pm

Bob Ritter wrote:Wonder why Country music has never produced a Steel guitarist fronting the band other than Jr. Brown.

Sarah Jory and Joe Wright come to mind.

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 23 Mar 2007 5:46 pm

Chas well said.

Just because some still don't yet understand
that there are pedals undernieth,
that doesn't mean once they start trying to learn
they won't get told what's what..

Who really expects that those new kids drawn to RR,
will actually FIRST find a country steeler to teach them.
Likely a blues oriented guy and later find a real PSG player.

As long as they start, they will learn
and as they learn they will look to the past,
and the instruments history.

Bob Ritter · Post by **Bob Ritter** » 23 Mar 2007 7:27 pm

Well ok so we got Sara and Joe and they are both really great but we need a few more still.

David Doggett · Post by **David Doggett** » 23 Mar 2007 8:01 pm

And Jim Cohen.

Bob Ritter · Post by **Bob Ritter** » 24 Mar 2007 7:11 am

Dont get me wrong being a sideman is a great gig,

every time you get the chance to steel the show

A. J. Schobert · Post by **A. J. Schobert** » 24 Mar 2007 4:25 pm

I don't think sarah or joe have the same success as RR, RR has been on MTV and just now on MTV news he says he is going to work with american idol Taylor Hicks, that will be interesting. I never heard off sarah or joe till I started reading the forum, sarah is very tallented and joe has great learning material that is about all I know of them. I feel RR on a different level. JUST MY OPINION! This was interesting for St. Pattys day me and my buddys went to three bars I talked to the patrions there none knew who Buddy Emmons is while all knew whom RR is!

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 24 Mar 2007 7:34 pm

Yes in perspective.
Sarah is a sideman for Van Morrison,
and RR is on MTV and many other shows
and opens for Clapton on his own name,
at Clapton's invitation.

A bit of a difference.

Doesn't diminish Sarah's playing one iota.
But it is a definite difference in both
observability and status of the instrument.

Joe is a great player, an insanely great pickblocker,
and a very entertaining performer in either personality.
But a niche performer in comparison to RR's current status.

Apples and oranges.

Paul Franklin played with Dire Straits on their live DVD,
in large concert venues,
but again as a featured sideman, and not a leader.

Still that doesn't make him less than a suppurb player in any room...

Bob Ritter · Post by **Bob Ritter** » 24 Mar 2007 9:21 pm

that list is so ridiculous...

admin · Post by **b0b** » 24 Mar 2007 9:22 pm

Bob Ritter wrote:Wonder why Country music has never produced a Steel guitarist fronting the band other than Jr. Brown.

b0b wrote: Sarah Jory and Joe Wright come to mind.

DLD, I wasn't intending to compare them to RR. I was answering the question about country steel guitarists who often front bands. Obviously the MTV market is larger, but I don't see what RR does as any different from Sarah or Joe's show. All 3 are front personalities and dynamic entertainers, comfortable performing for large audiences. Only the style of music varies.

Oh yes, and I do think that Sarah and Joe are both better singers than Robert (not that it matters much at that level of performance).

Bob Ritter · Post by **Bob Ritter** » 24 Mar 2007 9:34 pm

b0b this call's for a battle of the band's between RR, Sarah and Joe.

Charles Davidson · Post by **Charles Davidson** » 24 Mar 2007 9:53 pm

If the RS article was called the top ROCK guitarist would make it more legitimate.Plus looking down the list there are several [IMO ONLY]that would qualify for the no.one spot other than Jimi.If it's called the greatest guitar players where are the Charlie Christans,Les Paul's Wes Montgomery's,Chet Atkin's,Hank Garland's,Joe Pass's,Tal Farlow's the list could go on and on and on.And yes I'm well aware what kind of mag RS is,but I still they should have called it the top ROCK guitarist.OK guys go ahead and pile on me,I know it's coming.

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Robert Randolph

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