Duke Robillard Guitar Tab Books, Instruction DVDs, Solos, Arrangements, Video Lessons

Duke Robillard - Versatile Blues/Jazz & Swing Guitar Player!
Compiled & Edited By Steven Herron

    Duke Robillard was born in Woonsocket, Rhode Island on October 4, 1948. He made up his mind that he wanted to play the guitar at the age of 6 after hearing some records by Buddy Holly and Chuck Berry. It was not until he was 12 years old that he got his very first guitar. In his early teens, he was inspired by various popular artists consisting of Duane Eddy, The Ventures, and The Surfaris along with rockabilly and country guitarist players James Burton and Scotty Moore. Then his guitar playing ended up being influenced by leading blues guitarists including B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Otis Rush, and Freddie King.

    After his initial graduation from high school Duke Robillard worked for over a year in a factory. This experience made him choose to make a living as a guitar player! In 1967 he formed his group "Roomful Of Blues". Around this time his individual music style started to be influenced by the recordings of Buddy Johnson's rhythm and blues band. Duke then began to listen to the big band recordings of Count Basie and Duke Ellington as well as those of jazz guitarists Charlie Christian, Barney Kessel, Oscar Moore, and Tiny Grimes.

    In 1969 he formed another blues band called "Black Cat". It was short lived though and after it disbanded Robillard reformed the "Roomful Of Blues". This group was styled after the Kansas City and Southwest swing traditions. For a number of years the group worked frequently in clubs around the Rhode Island and Boston areas. When he befriended and worked with jazz saxophonist Scott Hamilton, throughout this time Duke was drawn even more towards jazz.

    In 1978 the "Roomful Of Blues" band recorded for the Island Record Company. Since that time Duke Robillard has been associated with numerous famous groups including "The Pleasure Kings", "The Legendary Blues Band" and "The Fabulous Thunderbirds". Duke then began recording for Rounder Records. His releases for this company reflect the quality of the jazz side of his guitar playing instead of the rhythm and blues sounds of his earlier recordings.

    In 1993 Duke Robillard signed a recording contract with the Stony Plains record label. Amongst his numerous CDs ever since then are 2 collaborations with jazz guitar legend Herb Ellis, a rhythm and blues tribute to T-Bone Walker, teaming up with Jay Geils and Jerry Beaudoin as "The New Guitar Summit" playing passionate renditions of famous swing tunes, a match-up with fellow blues guitarist Ronnie Earl in addition to a tribute to Les Paul and Mary Ford.

    Throughout his lively career Duke Robillard, who is also a personable singer, has constantly gone his own way frequently crossing over stylistic boundaries to play the music he likes. In more current times Duke has launched a number of outstanding educational guitar DVDs and book collections that teach many of his recorded solos as well as his playing methods and harmonic approach to guitar.