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Randy Jacobs

The Boneshakers eclectic style is a reflection of Jacobs wide-ranging musical experience, which began in Detroit at the age of 13. Jacobs' first professional gigs were with some of Motown's leading artists, including Sylvia Moy, Barrett Strong, and Don Davis. While working with former Miles Davis bassist Michael Henderson, Jacobs showed he had a gift for songwriting when he co-authored the Top-Five R&B hit, "Wide Receiver."

"As much as I respect the blues, I'm not interested in doing the same old 'Mustang Sally' 12-bar blues thing," Jacobs says. "I hope we're pushing things forward with what we do. But, if anything, I'd say my music tends to have that old-school R&B/funk vibe to it. It's not intentional, it's just a reflection of what I grew up with."

After a number of years working with the Motown sound, Jacobs became one of the core members of Was (Not Was), an eclectic pop band that developed a strong following in the U.S. and abroad during the 1980s. While with the band, Jacobs co-authored the Top-Ten hit, "Walk the Dinosaur."

Since then, Jacobs hard-driving, always-in-the-pocket talent has been sought out by such diverse artists as Australian rocker Paul Kelly, rappers Coolio and Dr. Dre, pop star Elton John, punk rocker Iggy Pop, English ska band General Public, European-Arabic superstar Khaled, Steve Cropper, Stevie Wonder, Herbie Hancock, B.B. King, Bonnie Raitt, Paula Abdul, Jewel, Billy Preston, K.D. Lang, Seal, Bruce Hornsby, the B-52s, Apollo 4 Forty, Republica, Joe Henry, and smooth jazz saxophonist Warren Hill.

While he continues working with other artists, Jacobs' first love is The Boneshakers. "It's really important to me to be able to play my own music. I figured that out when I was still a kid and saw things like The Beatles playing on the 'Ed Sullivan Show' and Chet Atkins doing 'Wabash Cannonball.' I wanted to move people the same way those guys moved me. When I got it together enough to play guitar for my family they really liked it. And that's what still propels me--whether I'm in front of two people or two thousand--if I see them dance, see them move, then I know it's worthwhile. Besides," he adds with a laugh, "it's either this or work at Burger King."