RANDY
JACOBS
VIDEOS
Interviews/BTS
Interviews/BTS
The History of Guitarist Randy Jacobs
Randy Jacobs funk masterclass: Can you get six ideas from one groove?
#BTS with The Boneshakers- Bonnie Raitt Pt. 1
#BTS with The Boneshakers- Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg
Live Videos
Live Videos
The Boneshakers "Cold Sweat" solo at Festival International de Blues de Donnacona
Keith Richards, Randy Jacobs, Johnny Depp & Friends- Key to the Highway
Randy Jacobs "Summertime" solo
"Papa was a Rollin' Stone" Was (Not Was) on Arsenio Hall 1990
Come Here Anytime
TV/Movies
TV/Movies
"Papa was a Rollin' Stone" Was (Not Was) on Arsenio Hall 1990
Randy Jacobs with B.B. King on Baywatch Nights- Blues Boy (Season 1, Ep 9)
WAS (NOT WAS) Live from Daytona Beach 1989, Walk The Dinosaur
The Rum Diary - Dance scene
Haor Bachashecha (acoustic)
Was (Not Was)
Was (Not Was)
Was Not Was documentary and live UK TV Wired
Was (Not Was) - Papa Was a Rolling Stone (Live at Farm Aid)
"Papa was a Rollin' Stone" Was (Not Was) on Arsenio Hall 1990
Was (Not Was) - Walk The Dinosaur
LIVE
RANDY
JACOBS
BIO
Born in San Francisco and raised in the “Motor City” Detroit, Jacobs career began at the age of 13. His first professional gigs were working with some of Motown’s leading writers, producers and artists, such as songwriter Sylvia Moy (“Mi Cherie Amour”), singer/songwriter Barrett Strong (“Money”), and producer Don Davis (Johnny Taylor, The Dramatics, Robin Trower) all the while developing his no plectrum style as he continued to gain experience as a player.
It was while working with former Miles Davis bassist/singer Michael Henderson fresh out of high school, that Jacobs showed he had a gift for songwriting when he co-authored the Top-Five R&B hit, “Wide Receiver.”
After a number of years working in the Motown scene 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.”
After they disbanded he became a member of Soul Mission (a gospel R&B project featuring Tata Vega, Mavis Staples, Booker T Jones and Steve Cropper), with one release for Sony/Epic Records.
In 1994 he formed his own outfit The Boneshakers finally projecting his vision of funk, blues, R&B, rock and soul into the universe. He released two CDs, Book of Spells, which included his rocking arrangement of James Brown’s “Cold Sweat", and Shake the Planet both featuring his longtime Was (Not Was) band mate Sweetpea Atkinson on vocals for Pointblank/Virgin Records.
Three more followed Pouring Gasoline, Put Some Booty on It Live, Vol. 1 featuring Austin vocalist Malford Milligan and then Put Some Booty On It Live Vol 2 released on his own Bad Monkey Recordings.
After a multi-year collaboration with saxophonist Mindi Abair, The Boneshakers began a new chapter with vocalist Jenny Langer. Their album One Foot In The Groove hit #1 on UK Blues radio charts and #1 on US Soul Blues charts. In 2025, they released Live To Be This on Gulf Coast Records, which debuted on Billboard Top 10 Blues chart.
Randy continued his relationship with Pointblank Records President John Wooler co-producing and performing on the critically acclaimed I-10 Chronicles series which included Wiilie Nelson, Joe Ely, Charlie Musslewhite, Adam Duritz and Emmy Lou Harris among others and the Bill and Bonnie Hearn project for Backporch/Virgin Records.
Jacobs’ hard-driving, always-in-the-pocket talent has been sought out by such diverse artists as
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Robbie Williams
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Ofra Haza
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Mindi Abair
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Producer Trevor Horn
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Australian singer/songwriter Paul Kelly
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Coolio
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Warren G
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Dr. Dre
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Elton John
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Iggy Pop
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Dave Koz
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Brook Benton
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Alicia Myers
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English ska band General Public
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European-Arabic superstar Khaled
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Steve Cropper of Booker T and the MG’s
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Depeche Mode
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Ivan Neville
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Stevie Wonder
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Herbie Hancock
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B.B. King
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Bonnie Raitt
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Ringo Starr
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Kris Kristofferson
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Michael McDonald
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Paula Abdul
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Jewel
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Brian Simpson
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Gospel singer Fred Hammond
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Producer/guitarist Stephen Bruton
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Billy Preston
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Seal
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Tears for Fears
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Rachid Taha
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Bruce Hornsby
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The B-52s
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Apollo 4 Forty
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Republica
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Jazz flutist Alexander Zonjic
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Producer/mixer Ben Grosse
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Jazz singer Diane Schurr
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Singer Wendy Moten
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Brian Culbertson
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Producer Don Was
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French singer Faudel
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Delbert McClinton
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Singer/songwiter Joe Henry
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Lisa Stansfield
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Producers The Matrix
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Smooth jazz saxophonist Warren Hill
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Rick Braun
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Earl Klugh
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Marcia Ball
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Wanda Jackson
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Euge Groove
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Willie Nelson
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98 degrees lead singer Nick Lachey
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Hillary Duff
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St Leonards
...and many more.
DISCOGRAPHY
"Randy Jacobs is one of the funkiest and most original guitar players on Earth."
- Don Was
ARTIST PROJECT LABEL
The Boneshakers Live To Be This Gulf Coast Records
The Boneshakers One Foot In The Groove Take It To The Bridge Records
Mindi Abair and The Boneshakers No Good Deed Pretty Good For A Girl
Summer Horns A-Z Concord Records
Mindi Abair and The Boneshakers All I Got for Xmas Was The Blues Pretty Good For A Girl
Mindi Abair and The Boneshakers East/West Sessions Pretty Good For A Girl
Richard Elliot Summer Madness Mack Avenue
BWB Triple Dare Mack Avenue
Mindi Abair and The Boneshakers Live In Seattle Concord Records
Sweetpea Atkinson Get What You Deserve Blue Note
Jeff Golub The Vault Entertainment One U.S
Jonathan Fritzen Fritzenized Nordic Night Records
Rick Braun Can You Feel It? Mack Avenue
Richard Elliot Lip Service Concord Records
Will Donato Universal Groove Innervision Records
Randy Jacobs Rhythm and The Beat Bad Monkey Recordings
Paul Rose Double Life Mita Records
Dave Koz Summer Horns Concord Records
Michael Grimm Moment In Time Free Roll Ent
Jonathan Fritzen Magical Nordic Night Records
Dave Koz Live At The Blue Note Tokyo Concord
Brian Culbertson XII Verve Music Grp
Was (Not Was) The Best Of Was (Not Was) Micro Werks
Randy Jacobs The Return Of Randy Dynamite Bad Monkey Recordings
Randy Jacobs From Me To You Bad Monkey Recordings
Boneshakers Put Some Booty On It, V2 Bad Monkey Recordings
Boneshakers Put Some Booty On It, V1 Bad Monkey Recordings
Boneshakers Pouring Gasoline Bad Monkey Recordings
Boneshakers Shake The Planet Pointblank / Virgin
Boneshakers Book Of Spells Pointblank / Virgin
Michael Grimm Livin On Faith Free Roll Ent Inc
Robbie Williams Reality Killed The Video Star. Virgin
Was (Not Was) Pick Of The Litter Microwerks
Was (Not Was) Boo! RYCODISC
Was (Not Was) The Woodwork Squeaks ZE Records
Was (Not Was) Out Come The Freaks ZE Records
Was (Not Was) Hello Dad I’m In Jail Fontana
Was (Not Was) Are You Okay? Chrysalis
Was (Not Was) The Wonder Years Soundtrack Atlantic
“Baby I Need Your Loving”
Was (Not Was) The Death Of Mr Ping Pong Phonogram
Was (Not Was) What Up Dog? Phonogram
Was (Not Was) Born to Laugh at Tornadoes Geffen
Was (Not Was) “Christmas in the Motor City” ZE Records
Sweetpea Atkinson Don’t Walk Away ZE Records
Mindi Abair In Hi Fi Stereo Concord Records
Gumbo Child Creole Soul Hi Yello
Andre Berry Off The Beaten Path LBG Records
Shilts Jigsaw Life NuGroove
Robbie Williams Reality Killed The Video Star Chysalis Records LTD
St Leonard St Leonards Evalilly Records
Mitch Ryder Detroit Ain’t Dead Yet Floating World Records
Dave Koz Greatest Hits Capital Records
Rick Braun & Richard Elliot. RNR Artizen
Jeff Golub Grand Central Narada Jazz
Willie Nelson Countryman Lost Highway
Andre Berry Gratitude LBG Records
Depeche Mode Precious Reprise/ Warner
Stephen Bruton From The Five New West
Deep Fried Funk Society Fried Knukle Sammich LBG Records
Brian Simpson It’s All Good Rendevous
Kate and Kasey Coppola Circle Around Independent
Steve Raybine Bad Kat Karma Bad Kat Records LLC
Khaled Ya Rayi Universal
Warren Hill Popjazz Popjazz
Nessa Morgan Sex and Poverty BMG
Nick Lachey Soul OJive
Rick Braun Esperando Warner Jazz
Rick Braun Sessions Vol 1 Artizen Records
Stephen Bruton Spirit World New West
Marcia Ball So Many Rivers Alligator Records
Various Artists I-10 Chronicles 2 Backporch/ Virgin
Leroy Leroy Hollywood Records
Diane Schurr Friends For Schurr Concord Jazz
BBMak “Still On your Side” (radio mix) Hollywood Records
Ivan Neville Scrape Copendia
Cheb Khaled Kenza Barclay/ Universal
Billy Preston Music From My Heart Prestige Records
Various Artist’s I -10 Chronicles 1 Backporch/ Virgin
Joe Henry “Unchain My Heart” “Monkey” (Remix)Mammoth/ Disney
Apollo 4 Forty “Stop the Rock” Sony Records
Warren Hill “Love Life” Narada/ Virgin
Bill and Bonnie Hearne Watching Life Through a Windshield Backporch/ Virgin
B.B.King Deuces Wild MCA Records
Jewel The Craft SoundTrack Epic Records
“Under the Water”
Jeff Black “That’s Just About Right” Arista/ Nashville
Anita Baker "Mad About You” (Theme) NBC TV
Republica Are You Ready To Go? RCA Records
Joe Henry Fuse Mammoth/Disney
A Slipping Down Life Soundtrack Commotion
Juice Newton “Trouble With Angels” River North
David McMurray “On Chow Mein Street” Hip Bop
Mette “I Don’t to Fall In Love” EMI/ Norway
“Fantasy”
“10%”
Amanda Marshall “Shades of Gray” Sony Records
Better Than Ezra “I Like it Like That”(Remix) Elektra
Billy Preston Minister of Music Prestige Records
Jordan Hill “You Got No Right” 143/ Atlantic
Billy Preston Billy’s Back Prestige Records
Orquestra Was Forever is a Long,Long Time Verve
Men Without Hats Bio-Dome Soundtrack Priority
“Safety Dance” (Remix)
Wendy Moten “Life’s What You Make It” IRS
Babes In Toyland “We Are Family”(Remix) Warner Bros.
Jane Siberry “Lovin’ Cup" (Remix) Reprise
Penelope Houston “Sweetheart” (Remix) Reprise
Jonell Mosser Boys On The Side Soundtrack Arista
“Crossroads”
Ringo Starr Harry Nilsson Tribute RCA
“Lay Down Your Arms”
Carolyn Striho Dreams Can Be Your Friend Mysterio Records
Paul Kelly Deeper Water Mushroom
“Extra Mile”
“I’ve Been a Fool”
“Deeper Water”
Coolio Clueless Soundtrack Capital
“Rolling with my Homies”
Paul Kelly Live at the Continental & EsplanadeMushroom
Bonnie Raitt Longing in Their Hearts Capital
“I Sho Do”
“Steal Your Heart Away”
“Hell to Pay”
Bonnie Raitt Luck of the Draw Capital
“Good Man,Good Woman”
“Tangled and Dark”
Bonnie Raitt & BB King Air America Soundtrack MCA
“Wrong Place, Right Time”
Tears For Fears The Seeds of Love Phonogram
“Year of the Knife”
Earl Klugh Move “Night Walk” Reprise
Various Artists Rhythm, Country and Blues MCA
KD Lang “Lifted By Love” (Remix) Sire
Bruce Hornsby Hot House RCA
General Public “I’ll Take You There” Epic/ Sony
Nathan Cavaleri Nathan MJJ/ Sony
David McMurray The David McMurray Show Warner Bros.
Warren G. “Regulator” (Remix) Death Row
Cleto Escobedo “For Your Love” Virgin
Seal Seal Warner Bros
“Show Me”
“Future Love Paradise”
Paula Abdul Spellbound Virgin
“I’m Alright Tonight”
Soul Mission Soul Mission Word/ Epic
Dr.Dre & Snoop Doggie Dogg. “Let Me Ride” (Remix) Death Row
Paul Kelly Wanted Man Mushroom
Michael McDonald Blink of an Eye Reprise
Shello “West Coast Boogie” Giant
Various Artists Adams Family Values Atlas
Elton John For Our Children- "Pacifier" Disney
Bob Dylan “TV Song” (Remix) Columbia
Paul Young A Very Special Xmas A&M
“What Xmas Means to Me”
George Clinton Mario Bros Soundtrack MCA
“Walk the Dinosaur”
One Way Lady MCA
Liz Laren Test Your Faith Atlantic
“Color Red”
“Revelation”
Melanie Williams Melanie Williams Sony
Sofia Shinas Sofia Shinas Warner
Cheb Khaled Khaled Barclay
Cheb Khaled Ni’ssi Ni’ssi Barclay
Various Artists “Drive My Car” R.A.A.D.D.
Boom Crash Opera “Onion Skin” (Remix) Giant
Ofra Haza Kirya Warner
Delbert McClinton Never Been Rocked Curb
Boston Dawn “Playtoy” American
Kris Kristofferson “Paper Heart” Elektra
MiQueal Thomas MiQueal Thomas Cisco/ Warner
Tiger Baseball Bless You Boys (Do It Again) WDIV-TV
Alexander Zonjic Neon Reprise
Alexander Zonjic When It Is Real Optimism
B-52’s “Roam” (Remix) Reprise
Michael Henderson Going Places Buddah/Arista
“Whip It”
Michael Henderson In The Nighttime Arista
Michael Henderson Do It All Arista
Michael Henderson Wide Receiver Arista
Michael Henderson SlingShot Arista
Michael Henderson Bedtime Stories Capital
FloyJoy Weak in Presence of Beauty Virgin
FloyJoy Into The Hot Virgin
Ann Batchler Checkered Past Ignited Prod.
Howard Huntsberry Howard Huntsberry MCA
Commissioned Ordinary Just Won’t Do Light/Benson
Commissioned State of Mind Light/Benson
Alicia Myers You Get The Best From Me MCA
Helen Terry “Studdering” Geffen
Tigers Baseball Bless You Boys WDIV-TV Detroit
Gerry Woo Listen to my Heartbeat Polygram
“I Can’t Believe It”
“Almond Eyes”
“Get it Tonight”
Sharon Bryant “Here I Am” Wing
Felix and Jarvis Felix and Jarvis Quality
Five Special Trackin “Lovathon” Elektra
Witness We Can Make A Difference Polygram
Lexi Call Her Lexi Polygram
LJ Reynolds Travelin Capital
John Marshall “Ball Of Confusion” WEA
Billy Always “Watch Out” Epic
Ada Dyer Ada Dyer Motown
Richard Barlons “Mr.Used to Be” MCA
LJ Reynolds Key to the World Capital
Ron Banks Truly Bad CBS
Automatix The Automatix MCA
Linda Di Franco “The Look Of Love” WEA
Orbit “All Shook Up” Quality
Claudia “99 Balloons” Quality
Fiona Franklin “Busted Up on Love” Virgin
Detroyt Detroyt Tabu
Slang Slang Reliant
Lamont Johnson Music of The Sun Tabu
Bootsy Collins “Funky” (Remix) Warner
Felix & Jarvis “Jam The House” Quality
Detroit Energy Asylum Theater of The Night Juke Box
