Duke Robillard - Blues for T-Bone

A tribute to T-Bone Walker. Germany 1988.

[@SoWhat.BigDeal.]

Back in 1974-75 Roomful used to shoot down I-95 from Westerly to New London CT to Connecticut College, I saw them 6-7 times, standing about 8 feet right in front of Duke, the whole room behind me drinking and dancing, and I was in heaven. All the guys were fantastic soloists, piano and 3 saxophones, but I just loved watching Duke take off for 10-12 minutes at a time! Just a bottomless bag of moves and phrases. Fortunately I knew how lucky I was to be standing there, that this was once in a lifetime. Great to see him still doing it.

[@johnnysays9629]

You should see his brothers paintings. Gerald Robillard.

[@GeorgiaBoy1961]

Duke's playing here sounds like T-Bone meets SRV or maybe Anson Funderburgh. Nice volume swells... very hip. I saw Duke live years ago, and it was a great show. Wish I'd known about him back in the 1980s, when this clip was done. He's the real deal, and has been for a long time.

[@larryn1875]

Anson!

[@Gminor7]

I've been listening to this for 29 years. A blues solo that deserves to be transcribed and studied - so many memorable melodic licks. Seen him do it live many times. Duke single handedly resurrected my interest in electric guitar in about 1980.

[@fukhue8226]

I've listened to this quite a few times now. Duke had great Classic Fender Tone with lot's of well executed dynamics (bringing it up and down). If you notice there is no one talking in the background. The only 2 ways you can pull that off is to have a well seen sniper on stage ready to 86 the first person that moves their lips. Or the 2nd way is to perform on a level that captivates your audience. That is what happened here and no matter who you are, famous or not. It is hard to do what Duke did no matter how fast you can play in a slow blues song.

[@fukhue8226]

One of the best blues instrumentals ever! Tone, Emotional Dynamics, Slow Precise Note Bends to Well Executed Note Flurys and some of the best Blues Chords in the business. The thing that tops it off is the entire ending. The mark of a "True Professional." I love the harmonic volume swell at the end then to top it all off he picks up the guitar and blows across the strings for a unique final ending note like no other. What more could you ask for as an audience member? Duke gave them their money's worth and more on this one. For me it would have been worth the entry fee just to hear and watch him do this one song. The rest would have been a bonus.

[@byteontheez]

No guitarist alive today has a greater skill and style than ex-T Bird Robbillard. Nobody

[@w.l.graves7228]

it is almost illegal , to have as much fun as the duke is having ,, playing his tribute to the master , Tbone !!! thank you duke !

[@wheatonna]

Delicious playing.

[@JoeyhasMojo]

Duke is the most under appreciated guitarist on the planet - see him LIVE and see what I mean

[@pietzsche]

The dynamic control here is just insane, never seen anything like it.

[@robertamoroso8207]

seen him many times downtown Providence. With Roomful of blues, solo, Ronnie Earl. Everyone. Never gets old

Michael Robillard AKA Duke Robillard: 10/4/1948 - Blues rock musician and bandleader who in 1967 co-founded the blues and swing revival group Roomful of Blues. He would depart from the group in 1979 to perform with Robert Gordonas well as his out outfits. In 1990 he replaced Jimmie Vaughan as the guitarist of The Fabulous Thunderbirds and continued to perform as a solo artist. He has toured with both Tom Waits and Bob Dylan and recorded with the likes of Pinetop Perkins, Snooky Pryor, Jimmy Witherspoon, and Ronnie Earl.

[@blusiedan]

So damn great... I had the chance to see him in a really small place, 80 people max!!! Man, I'll never forget that nite...

[@ribluesy]

Duke can do it ALL!! Love his jazz stuff too. I am indeed lucky to live in Ri and get to see him play often.

[@deniceyeagin4728]

I used to watch the blues masters turn their noses up at the celebrities that would show up at Antone's to "jam" onstage with them. Duke Robillard was held in the highest esteem as one of them...the blues masters. He and Lou Ann Barton both played with a Roomful of Blues. He is a master of the blues!

[@Bummel176]

Wow, what a joy of playing😎

[@IanMcHugh]

DYnamics are where it's at man!!!!! Lordy he he knows just how to use it!

[@bluesdjben]

This solo is so clean and so filthy at the same time. What a master.

[@jimchumley2982]

Good TBONE cover! Plus his own stuff. This is the first time I have ever heard this man and OH MAN HES THE MAN! What soul playing. I have been playing blues on the harp for about 30 yrs and hearing this once unknown for the first time let me to realize the touch is still be carried and it's on fire & bright!

[@msoiseth3419]

Duke has SUCH a feel for the blues, in the ZONE!

[@22eirrah]

one of the best blues guys

[@byteontheez]

Maestro Robbillard has such a fluid and ethereal grip on jazz and blues that it is amazing to see.

[@stampedehero22]

This when he had slick black hair What an amazing guy Met him A true gentleman Playin for your pleasure for 40 some years

[@Machinka]

What a great track by the Duke. Somehow the 8 you disliked this must have a hole in their soul. This is the real deal people.

[@peppers776]

Stunning! 😳 Duke 🇺🇸🎸🏆!

[@stoofbuis]

now THAT is a strat-tone !

[@Wesbound1]

IDuke is new to me. His style is different and good..... Saying 'Hi' to all his fans.....

[@nicholaslovett6248]

I’ve watched this video so many times over the years

[@malcolmpalm]

This is actually Duke's Mood, from the "Too Hot To Handle" record

[@b4ned]

shakes me to my core. So sorry I never saw him. Come on down to South America and play Duke.

[@Tex2820]

The first time I saw Duke was on german tv in the late 80's. It may have even been this broadcast, and he blew me away. Awesome. Been a fan ever since.

[@bbqbluesband]

incredible, thanks for the performance Duke.

[@user-vz7xf5vf6j]

Breathless…

[@paulkossak7761]

Saw him many years ago when he played with room full of blues at venue called my father's place on long Island NY. Fantastic show.

[@YoGroucho]

I follow Duke for years, I love hes guitar is very jazzy and sometimes touches very Latino

[@georgeclementijr6869]

Saw and heard him in Colorado a few years back, what a great person, his music is what I call blue and true, hope to see and of course hear him again, in person, I spin his works always.

[@Crazyfeline]

Saw him at The Whiffle Tree in Cortland NY in 1980 and watched him demolish a Pontillos Pizza pie after the show. A true legend.

[@LauraHallsMusic]

Happy Birthday, Duke Robillard! 🥳🎶🎈🎸

[@MrLittlefeat]

Man, What a Beautifull sound.

[@Trankimanit0]

This playing is phenomenal!

[@badapplechris3446]

i just bought a guys cd collection for my store, Bad Apple in Boise, and he had about 10 of his CDs. had never heard of Duke before but much to my enjoyment I'm glad i did

[@user-vz7xf5vf6j]

Nobody makes me cry….

[@kathyblewis-vy1it]

Yes, he is too good. I meet Duke. He sounds like T-Bone. Wonderful! Kathy B. from Florida.

[@jimwilcox7625]

Duke was the featured guest at The National Guitar Workshop when I attended. I think it was the year they closed down 1988. I'm not sure so if I'm incorrect, please forgive me. I'm a drummer but I went after talking to another drummer who had gone earlier. It was great despite being over my head on the guitar stuff. Pat Martino gave a class in playing across the neck as opposed to up and down. My only regret was not being able to play along in the jam with Duke. Had a great time and met up with some old friends too. I played a protracted jam with 15 of the students which was a lot of fun. I also forgot to mention I was 62 at that time but the kids didn't mind. I love playing regardless. Rock on Duke, RIP Pat.

[@davidrpriest]

WOW...blown away by his playing! Anyone who gave this a thumbs down must be a drummer.

[@ArtistiChicana]

great Musician' Love 'this kind of Music... its Music to my soul.

[@mariegordon6248]

Just discovered this gentleman, via Albert Collins. Sweet, Sweet....

[@richardkoechli]

I'm real impressed; WONDERFUL!!

[@RockHistoryTube]

Awesome performance.

[@lucienleja4468]

SAW him live with roomfull many times at Red Creek Rochester Ny BACK IN THE SEVENTIES

[@TonySchopp]

I was just thinking of those mind-blowingly great shows!

[@andrewp.4609]

The tone is in the shades

[@ebay9302]

I think I was there when Duke bought this guitar? He dug the color. Traded an Epiphone in if I recall.

[@screwmaster404]

No matter what Axe Duke uses, he cuts right to the bone.

[@svidrigajlov]

the spirit of blues guitar he mesmerize me

[@jazzfan400]

Perfect 👍 Thanks Duke !

[@slowbluesmaster]

Breathtakingly beautiful, what a sublime demonstration of skill & talent

[@stefosters]

Wow ! Amazing !!!!

[@bizthin]

Beautiful! On of my favs from Duke!!!

[@101bluesguy]

ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS!

[@ozbluesman]

Breathtaking !

[@jinete2420]

oh no, I love all colors and aprecciate each one as they are. Not the same, but all beautyful in their own way.

[@reid2hai]

Nice! I got into Duke around that time, and played the Rockin' Blues CD a couple hundred times!

[@Flyin2hawain]

I saw him perform in April at the Ritz Theater. INCREDIBLE.

[@billnelson5279]

Anyone else here big michael bloomfield blues on a westside at around 0:30? Man dukes awesome

[@danhope77]

amazing bluesman

[@motokev]

man, sooooo sweet to the ears !!!

[@albertvranken3382]

Excellent artiste. J'adore sa technique et le son Fender est parfait !

[@ohdear1964]

God that is SOO sweet!!!

[@gwgwgwgw1854]

My hat is off to you Duke!

[@macaius]

Great sound, I love this Fender Strat Plus

[@renhoek3851]

I suppose the side-effect of aggressive marketing and privacy theft from big internet companies is that you end up listening to a load of cool music. I would never have heard of a lot of the great artists I've watched on youtube without seeing the suggestions. So thanks, I suppose..

[@slowbluesmaster]

Unbelievable ! Goosebumps ...

[@jcayer2]

The Duke at his best !!! Thanks for posting this video !!!

[@warddoyouralgebra]

I need these sunglasses

[@dmrs000]

Excellent video I saw him some years ago in Byron Bay. He is a strict master like Ronnie Earl. Dan

[@CTJusticeofthePeace]

Duke baby!

[@LittleManFlying]

@MrWoodreaux Thanks! I always suspected as much. I was a student of his in the early 80’s. He was universally known as Duke by then, but let me know that his name was really Michael. He used to say that I was getting stuff in an hour (an hour and a half actuality, cause he always gave extra time) that had taken him 10 years to work out. But, I had a feeling it was really spun into his DNA.

[@Fr3derick]

Excellent!!! Grandma mary

[@Bluze1King]

Antonio. Thanks for the bio. He's a great guitar player!

[@10mey]

Sooo good!

[@GregKelley1956]

Duke Robillard

[@dtpc191991]

What a Boss!!!

[@tomlew55]

Nov 21 at Chan's, I'll be there for sure. Coming home to Woonsocket.

[@OtisSpain]

Great but... just give me the real T-Bone any day of the week.

[@doubleotwentyone]

Yes...

[@edgarhemery6705]

the pinky slide at 5'.20"

[@johnhickey8429]

I believe that is a parts stratocaster. Put together from different guitars. I saw him once playing a lawsuit Tokai strat.He sounded just as good.

[@stevecobham1252]

It's not a Bitsa - it's an early Fender Strat Plus.

[@heikoclasen]

ein wirklicher gitarrenvirtuose. Hochachtung.

[@mkl62]

10-4-2009. He's havin' fun at 61. Happy Birthday, Duke. Hey, maybe you can come to Columbia, SC and perform sometime (Colonial Life Arena or the Township Auditorium). Maybe Augusta, GA (James Brown Arena or the Bell Auditorium). Plus there's the nearby USC-Aiken Convocation Center. Think about it.

[@mojogypsy]

Sweet!

[@bbqbluesband]

only could hope that i give more like buttons.

[@stephaneduvernay]

J'adore!

[@mimichou53]

j'ai plusieurs cds ,et je le trouve très proléfique et un très grand parmi les grands michel ( france )

[@michelmorin2489]

Super guitariste !

[@rizzo5138]

l'âme du blues!

[@yogithecamel]

@MrWoodreaux It's all about your level interest, he clearly loves guitar with a passion. There is the difference between guitar gods and amateurs whose axe's gather dust and never get any wear and tear.

[@nandozuly]

great

[@petrossiasos8416]

Oou la la !!! Free Lessons...guys

[@EricCirca6566]

@Guitasteef Some single coil pickups can transmit the sound of your breath if you blow on them.

[@Cantbuyathrill]

Nice choo-choo effect. And what a gorgeous riff at 5:15 to 5:28

[@twoslices]

Thats a surprise,Lace sensor pick ups.

[@Paulsworks]

.........smmoooootttthhhhhhhh.............