Genre: Other, R&B/Urban, Traditional/Contemporary Gospel
Members: Robert Randolph (vocals, guitars), Danyel Morgan (bass, vocals), Marcus Randolph (drums), Jason Crosby (organ, piano)
For fans of: Sly Stone, Lenny Kravitz, Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Wonder, Eric Clapton, Dave Matthews Band
Label: Warner Bros. Records

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"We wanted to take our time and find ourselves," says Robert Randolph. "Find out what was really inside of me and the band and bring that out. Really try to come up with the best songs, dig deep within, and let all of the experiences that we have had in the last three years come out in the music."

With Colorblind, Randolph and the Family Band have taken the difficult leap from being great performing artists to being great recording artists. Since emerging from a House of God church in Orange, New Jersey steeped in the "sacred steel" tradition, Randolph's astonishing pedal steel playing has had a revolutionary impact. Like a mere handful of musicians—Louis Armstrong, Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Wonder—he has actually been able to redefine the sonic possibilities of his instrument. Randolph's string wizardry is the focal point of the Family Band's legendary live appearances, and led to guest spots with artists ranging from the Blind Boys of Alabama to Ozzy Osbourne.

But even Randolph admits that the Family Band's previous recordings have focused more on capturing their onstage magic than on making an album for the ages. "On the last record (2003's Unclassified)," he says, "we had some ideas, wrote as we went along, and we were out of there in three weeks—and that's cool. But in working with so many people and getting advice from Eric Clapton, Steven Tyler, and the guys from Dave Matthews Band—they all say, 'We'd love to see your talent showcased within the context of a great song.' I was always caught up in the show, because I'm comfortable as a performer," he continues. "But Carlos Santana said to me, if you ask fifty people which they remember most, a show or a record, 48 of them will say a great record. Because you live with a record, you can pick it up fifty years later and still listen to those songs."

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