The Drop: Robben Ford

Sponsored by Amoeba MusicFollowing the release of 2014’s A Day In Nashville, which peaked at No. 2 on Billboard’s Top Blues Album chart, guitar virtuoso Robben Ford returns with his latest effort, Into The Sun, set for release on March 31. Described by the five-time GRAMMY nominee as “one of the top recordings I’ve ever done,” Into The Sun features guest appearances by GRAMMY-winning blues musician Keb’ Mo’ and pedal steel guitarist Robert Randolph (“Justified”), singer/songwriter ZZ Ward (“Breath Of Me”), and fellow acclaimed guitarists Warren Haynes of the Allman Brothers Band/Gov’t Mule (“High Heels And Throwing Things”), Sonny Landreth (“So Long 4 U”), and Tyler Bryant (“Stone Cold Heaven”). The album serves as a departure from Ford’s blues roots and incorporates elements of jazz, pop, blues, and rock into the musician’s own modern framework. “I honestly think I reached a point with my writing on Into The Sun where I could just go with the flow and bring some of the best songs I’ve ever created to life,” Ford says. The first U.S. leg of Ford’s Into The Sun World Tour 2015 will launch on April 10th in Ft. Worth, Texas and in late April, the tour will move to Europe for a series of shows in the UK, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and others.  A second U.S. leg is slated for the end of May through June, with several shows in France and beyond set for this summer.  Ford will perform on the “Autour de la Guitare” Tour in France this fall.  Aside from the more than 35 albums he’s released, Ford is also recognized for his work with artists such as George Harrison, Miles Davis, Joni Mitchell, George Harrison, Bonnie Raitt, Jimmy Weatherspoon, Charlie Musselwhite, Barbra Streisand, Kiss, Ruthie Foster, and Rickie Lee Jones. Ford began his career in the ’70s by forming the Charles Ford Blues Band (which performs today as the Ford Blues Band) with his brothers, Mark and Patrick. That led to Robben and Patrick Ford supporting harmonica virtuoso Charlie Musselwhite, and later Robben began playing with Jimmy Weatherspoon. Afterward, Ford became a member of L.A. Express, with whom he supported George Harrison on his American tour and later toured with Miles Davis. Ford has also been recognized as one of the 100 greatest guitarists of the 20th century by Musician magazine.  An important and essential component of Ford’s career is his commitment to teaching and passing on what he’s learned over the past several decades to current and aspiring musicians.  Ford will host his second Traveling Dojo Guitar Camp from August 31-September 4, 2015 at the Full Moon Resort in the Catskill Forest Preserve in Big Indian, NY.  Guitarists of all levels and guitar enthusiasts will have the chance to learn from Ford and his special guest John Jorgenson, among others, through masters classes, one-on-one sessions and landmark live performances with sit-in opportunities (www.robbenfordguitarcamp.com).  The GRAMMY Museum welcomes Ford to the Clive Davis Theater for an intimate performance and discussion surrounding his career and latest album, moderated by Scott Goldman, Vice President of MusiCares and the GRAMMY Foundation.