How a Rhode Island guitarist mastered the shifting currents of blues and jazz
In short: From founding a seminal blues band in 1967 to touring with Bob Dylan, Duke Robillard has spent decades navigating the intricate intersections of swing, jazz, and rock. Discover the career of a musician whose versatility earned him some of the highest honors in the blues world.
Born in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, on October 4, 1948, Michael John "Duke" Robillard began his musical journey under the moniker Mike "Honey Bear" Robillard. His early career saw him working for the Guild Guitar Company in Oxnard, California, before he pivoted toward band leadership. In 1967, alongside Al Copley, he co-founded Roomful of Blues, a group that would serve as his creative home for over a decade until his departure in 1979.
Robillard’s career is defined by a restless refusal to stay within a single genre. Following his time with Roomful of Blues, he moved through various influential ensembles, including the Legendary Blues Band and the Fabulous Thunderbirds, where he joined in 1990 to replace Jimmie Vaughan. His ability to pivot between styles is evident in his diverse discography: he has explored jump blues, rhythm and blues, and swing, even forming a duo with jazz guitarist Herb Ellis and a swing trio with Gerry Beaudoin and J. Geils.
His technical mastery has been widely recognized by industry institutions. The International Blues Foundation has honored him multiple times, including W. C. Handy Awards for Best Blues Guitarist in 2000, 2001, 2003, and 2004, as well as a Keeping the Blues Alive Award for Producer in 2004. His reach extends globally, having received International Artist of the Year honors from the Toronto Blues Society in 2001, 2002, and 2003. Even a brief stint in 2013 as a guitarist for Bob Dylan’s tour highlights his standing among the elite performers of his craft.
Whether through solo ventures like the Duke Robillard Band—later known as Duke Robillard and the Pleasure Kings—or through Grammy-nominated works such as 2007's Guitar Groove-a-Rama and 2010's Stomp! The Blues Tonight, Robillard remains a central figure in contemporary blues. His work continues to bridge the gap between the traditional sounds of the 1940s and 1950s and modern interpretations.
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