Galactic

Inspired by the diverse musical traditions of the band's native New Orleans, Galactic formed in 1994 and quickly established a unique sound rooted in funk, jazz, hip-hop, R&B, and jam-band exploration. Guitarist Jeff Raines, bassist Robert Mercurio, drummer Stanton Moore, organist Richard Vogel, vocalist Theryl DeClouet, and saxophonist Ben Ellman remained the group's core members for nearly a decade, maintaining a busy touring schedule while releasing albums like Galactic's 1996 debut, Coolin' Off, and the 2001 concert album We Love 'Em Tonight: Live at Tipitina's. When DeClouet left the band after 2003's Ruckus, Galactic moved forward as an instrumental group, collaborating with a rotating roster of soul singers, rappers, and guest vocalists for albums like 2007's From the Corner to the Block, 2015's Into the Deep, and 2019's Already Ready Already. The group's wide-ranging sound has earned support from the jam-band community as well as fans of progressive jazz, with Galactic sending several albums to the top of the Billboard Contemporary Jazz chart.