Robert Randolph Essentials

Steel guitar player Robert Randolph cultivated his skills in church before starting his funky Family Band and exploding onto the jam-band circuit in the early '00s. The New Jersey native's recordings testify to this history, mixing virtuoso musicianship with gospel fervor while attracting sacred and secular audiences alike. In fact, the group were personally picked by guitar god Eric Clapton to open several tours and became mainstays at his Crossroads Guitar Festival, while fitting in just as well on the Christian-themed Music Builds Tour alongside Third Day, Switchfoot and Jars of Clay.