DUKE ROBILLARD

In 1967 Duke formed the Roomful of Blues, the New England outfit that has become an institution that survives into the present. Guitarist Duke formed the band with pianist Al Copley to play Blues and jazz flavoured R&B and their driving horn section made them a thrilling live act. A decade of playing bars and clubs around the North-east led to a recording contract with the Island label and after the second album, Duke went solo with a band that became known as The Pleasure Kings. In 1990, Duke replaced Jimmie Vaughan in the Fabulous Thunderbirds, playing on their ‘Walk the Walk’ album. Returning to his own outfit, Duke won the WC Handy award for Best Blues Guitarist in 2000 and 2001. Since the turn of the millennium, Duke has issued 19 albums, so he is clearly not a man to rest on his laurels.

‘Blues for T-Bone‘ says it all;