A Conversation with Robert Randolph (continued)

PM: Because, I mean, Kimock is an old buddy of mine, and he has been playing the lap steel out there for some years. But to see a funky black man get out there and blow minds with the pedal steel, it's really fun.

[laughter]

RR: And that's what it's all about, just to have fun. And keep the music good and pure, keep people dancing, and keep--you know, give people something good to remember.

PM: Yeah. So where do you think this train's headed? What do you see happening in the next year or two?

RR: I think I see the record being a real success. The record is going to be successful, and then it won't be an introduction to anyone anymore. And then they're going to want more songs and more records to be done, and that's what we're going to do.

PM: Warners is really behind it, aren't they.

RR: Yeah, they're great. I mean, they're working hard, everybody there, they really believe in the record. It's awesome.

PM: Wow. Are there things you haven't yet tried that you'd like to attempt in the future, musical or otherwise?

RR: Probably classical.

PM: Classical?

RR: Yeah, that's hard music there, that classical music. Get into that and kind of explore and see what's going on over there.

PM: Do you read music?

RR: No. I can't read it at all.

PM: Yeah, me neither. So you'd have to do it by ear, just take a piece that you like and do it?

RR: Yeah, basically.

PM: Has it ever been done on the pedal steel, classical music?

RR: I don't think so. Maybe some guy somewhere else tried it, but not to my knowledge. Jazz and blues have been tried, but I don't think classical has been tried.

PM: I just realized I've got to call my friend Bobby Lee in California. He's a great pedal steel player, and he runs this thing on the Internet called Steel Guitar Forum.
[steelguitarforum.com]

RR: Yeah.

PM: And I don't know if he knows about--he better know about Robert Randolph, but if he doesn't, he's sure going to know in about an hour.

RR: Yeah, a lot of those people don't--they don't care about me, because I don't play traditional country pedal steel.

PM: But this guy's a real artist, so he'll like it.

RR: Yeah. Because I've read up on there sometimes, some people, they get at me.

PM: Oh, really?

RR: Oh, yeah. Because I know some of the country players, and they'll call me and tell me sometimes.

PM: The guys in Nashville, the many steel players I know here, they would be very hip to what you're doing.

RR: Well, we'll see what happens, what will happen in the future. Maybe it'll all change. And if not, then I can only keep doing what I'm doing.

PM: I think you're going to change a lot of hearts and minds and open up the instrument and open up a lot of young people to your beautiful vibes. So we thank you a lot, Robert, for your time today. I know you're a busy man, thanks for taking the time to talk with us.

RR: Thank you very much, Frank. I appreciate everything you're doing.

PM: You bet. It's really nice talking to you, and all the best to you.

RR: All right, you too.

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