The story behind the man…
Roby Duke has been playing music since he was a small boy. Equally renowned as a singer/songwriter/producer, he has long been on the cutting edge of Christian music. His sound successfully mixes his down-home southern roots and current pop trends. Roby and his guitar do more than you would expect from a full band, and his presentation appeals to all ages.
Born and raised in the musical hotbed of the Mississippi Delta, the young Roby Duke listened to the magical musical storytelling that only long-time Southerners can spin. Against the backdrop of drawn out, humid summers and a variety of jazz and blues influences, Duke began to fashion sounds all his own, experimenting with all kinds of instruments along the way.
“I started playing instruments when I was 8. I was kind of a prodigy and could play well without a lot of instruction,” Duke says of his early musical days. “I could just pick up instruments and go. My dad’s band, The Delta Rhythm Boys, played the clubs and honky-tonks. One day he fired his bass player. I went to work the next night. I was 12 years old. I idolized my dad, and so I knew every song he liked.”
In 1990, he moved to Seattle, Washington and built his own studio where he now produces and does specialized recording work in addition to personal
appearances.
Roby Duke has released 7 albums. His solo debut album originally released under the label named MCA / Songbird, USA, which was established as the Contemporary Christian Music label distributed by MCA.
After closing Songbird label, Roby continued to release 4 albums: “Come Let Us The Reason” (1984), “Blue Eyed Soul” (1986), “Down To Business” (1989) and “Bridge Divine”(1994) ) with Ocean Records, USA. Among his albums, 1st album “Not The Same” (this album) is said to be masterpiece albums among AOR/Westcoast Pop Music freaks.
10 years after the “Bridge Divine” album Roby Duke released “Ghost” in 2004 and followed up with “Relaxed Fits” in 2006.
Roby Duke passed away December 26, 2007 of a sudden heart attack. 2 days before, Roby Duke was on stage with his son Brantley for a concert at the Calvary Chapell of Thousand Oaks, California.
Discography
Relaxed Fits
Masali Music 2006
Tracks: Bridge Divine, I Shall See God, Be Thou My Vision, Be Your Hand, Amazing Grace, He Shall Reign, Here For You, Softly And Tenderly, Promised Land & My Jesus I Love Thee.
Musicians on the Relaxed Fits album: Roby Duke and others.
Ghost
Masali Music 2004
Tracks: Waking In Georgetown, Paudemic, Tuvanesque, Lakota Dream, Melizzma, Boo Dancing, Deception Pass, One Embrace, No_One_Home & Quirk.
Musicians on the Ghost album: Roby Duke, Nick Manson, Brantley Duke & John Pattitucci.
Bridge Divine
Word Records 1994
Tracks: Mississippi, I Will Not Forget You, Wait For Days, Bridge Divine, Baby Blues, Solo But Not Really, Sometimes I Think I Do, Take No Sorrow, Love Is All You Need, I Come To You & O Lord.
Musicians on the Bridge Divine album: Roby Duke, Carolee, Mayne Ostrom, Brantley Duke, Pearl Brick, Larry Brick, Michael Peterson, Nick Manson & Andy Suzuki.
Down To Business
Good News Records 1989
Tracks: I Try (Walk in the Park), Dreams Alive, I Shall See God, Moon Over Me (Waiting For You), Rain, Down To Business, Nonetheless, Modern Man (Want Will Steal Your Heart Away), Maybe, Thief On The Hill.
Musicians on the Down To Business album: Roby Duke, Eric Persing, John Robinson, John Patitucci, Marty Walsh, Paul Jackson Jr., Richard Souther, Alex Acuna, Steve Tavaglione, Tim Miner, Cindy Cruse Miner, Bill North, Alfie Silas, Don Wallace & Angie Alan.
Blue Eyed Soul
Word Records 1986
Tracks: I Know You Mister, I've Come Too Far, This Is Not A Game, Runaway (Say So), Another Night, I'll Survive, Talk To Me, Can't Let You Go, It's Up To You & Here For You.
Musicians on the Blue Eyed Soul album: Roby Duke, Eric Persing, Dann Huff, Steve Farris, Michael Thompson, John Patitucci, Bob Wilson, Bob Sheppard, Deniece Williams, Julia Waters, Maxine Waters & Carmen Twillie.
Come Let Us Reason
Word Records 1984
Tracks: Come Let Us Reason, All Lost, I'm Persuaded, Watching For You, Fight The Fight, Win Or Lose, Here I Am, Closer To You, Lay It Down & There Is Just One Way.
Musicians on the Come Let Us Reason album: Roby Duke, Bob Wilson, Harlan Rogers, John Schreiner, Larry Williams, Dann Huff, Nathan East, Wayne Brasel, John Pattitucci, Alex Mac Dougall, Richard Page, Steve George & Kelly Willard.
Not The Same
Songbird Records 1982
Tracks: Love Is Here To Stay, Time To Stand, Seasons Of Change, Carpenter (Do What You Got To Do), Feel It Comin´,O Magnify The Load, Can´t Stop Runnin´, Rested In Your Love, Not The Same & Promised Land.
Musicians on the Not The Same album: Roby Duke, Hadley Hockensmith, Marty Walsh, Harian Rogers, John Patitucci, Keith Edwards, Alex MacDougall & Rob Watson.
Not The Same
Word Records 1980
Tracks: Love Is Here To Stay, Time To Stand, Seasons Of Change, Carpenter (Do What You Got To Do), Feel It Comin´,O Magnify The Load, Can´t Stop Runnin´, Rested In Your Love, Not The Same & Promised Land.
Musicians on the Not The Same album: Roby Duke, Hadley Hockensmith, Marty Walsh, Harian Rogers, John Patitucci, Keith Edwards, Alex MacDougall & Rob Watson.
Not The Same
Songbird Records 1980
Tracks: Love Is Here To Stay, Time To Stand, Seasons Of Change, Carpenter (Do What You Got To Do), Feel It Comin´,O Magnify The Load, Can´t Stop Runnin´, Rested In Your Love, Not The Same & Promised Land.
Musicians on the Not The Same album: Roby Duke, Hadley Hockensmith, Marty Walsh, Harian Rogers, John Patitucci, Keith Edwards, Alex MacDougall & Rob Watson.