Robben Ford

Robben Ford is one of the premier electric guitar players today, particularly know for his blues playing as well as his ability to comfortable in a variety of musical concepts. He is a five-time Grammy nominee. His list of elite musicians he has worked with are Joni Mitchell, Jimmy Witherspoon, Miles Davis, George Harrison, Phil Lesh, Bonnie Raitt, Claus Ogerman, Michael McDonald, Bob Dylan, John Mayall, Greg Allman and a number of other notables.

Ford was born in 1951 in Woodlake California and was raised in Ukiah CA. He was the third of his siblings, all musically inclined. His father Charles was a country and western singer and guitarist. His mom Kathryn played piano and had a lovely singing voice. Robben played saxophone initially. He started guitar at thirteen. His influences included Michael Bloomfield and Elvin Bishop and the Paul Butterfield Blues Band.
He also had the chance to see Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Cream, Led Zeppelin, Albert King, BB King at the Fillmore and Winterland Auditoriums in San Francisco. “It was an incredible time for electric guitar,” Robben recalls. In 1977 Robben had his first solo recording for Elektra Records. In the eighties he moved to New York with his wife Anne and many doors opened up for him musically. Miles Davis, Yellowjackets and David Sanbourn had him working the circuit and television appearances everywhere.
In year 2000 Phil Lesh invited Robben to tour with Bob Dylan. Robben has had several releases on Concord Records, most recently “Renegade Creation’ in 2010. The other members are guitarist Mike Landau, bassist Jimmy Haslip and drummer Gary Novak. Check out Robben Ford’s show at Yoshi’s this Spring!