The Capitol Theatre presents Robert Randolph And The Family Band

Earlier this year, Robert Randolph & The Family Band released their most recent album and label debut for Sony Masterworks, Got Soul. The album features guest artists Anthony Hamilton, Darius Rucker and Cory Henry.

It wasn't until he was out of his teens that Randolph broke away from the confines of his social and musical conditioning and discovered rock, funk, soul, jazz and the jam band scene, soon forging his own sound by fusing elements of those genres.

"It was all church music. It was a movement within our church and that's all we used to do," says Randolph of the sacred steel music he played at the time, music whose association with his church stretches back to the 1920s. Once Randolph began to discover other forms of music, he saw how they were all connected, and was eager to find his own place.

By the early 2000s, Randolph had begun applying his dazzling steel guitar technique to secular music, and from that grew the Family Band. The group's sound was so different than anything else around that they were soon packing New York City clubs. Their first album, 2002's Live at the Wetlands, was recorded at the now defunct jam band haven and was followed by four studio albums and another live set, each widening the band's audience.

"Things happened really fast," Randolph, named one of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time by Rolling Stone, says now. "When I look back on that time, to be honest, I had no idea what the hell we were doing. We'd get told, 'You guys are going on tour with Eric Clapton.' 'Oh, OK.' I thought, this guy must not have a clue who I am but the first time I met him we talked for about an hour and played music backstage."

Reserved tickets priced at $50, $35 and $25 will be available at the Ruth Eckerd Hall Ticket Office located at 1111 McMullen Booth Road in Clearwater or by calling 727.791.7400. The Ruth Eckerd Hall Ticket Office is open Monday through Saturday, from 10 am to 6 pm and one hour prior to show time. Patrons may also purchase tickets at www.AtTheCap.com 24/7.

Ruth Eckerd Hall, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, owned by the City of Clearwater, manages and operates 2,200-seat Ruth Eckerd Hall, the 200-seat Murray Theatre, the Marcia P. Hoffman School of the Arts, the 750-seat Capitol Theatre and Ruth Eckerd Hall On The Road. Our mission is: Changing lives through the performing arts.

The Capitol Theatre, located in downtown Clearwater's Cleveland District, was constructed in 1921 and is one of Florida's oldest operating theaters. In 2015, the Capitol Theatre was named the #5 venue in the world by industry trade publication Venues Today and the #29 club venue in the world by industry trade publication Pollstar. In 2013, the theater underwent a complete renovation and is the catalyst for downtown development.

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