G.E. Smith and Blues Legend Duke Robillard at The Suffolk

G.E. Smith returns to The Suffolk on Friday, January 26, at 8 p.m. and this time he’s with Grammy-nominated blues legend Duke Robillard for a night of rhythm and blues. This is a must-see show for any music enthusiast. These two virtuosos bring together a wealth of talent, experience, and a deep passion for their craft that is nothing short of awe-inspiring.

Duke Robillard has carved out one of blues’ most illustrious legacies, while also trodding some lofty related territories as a guitarist, vocalist, songwriter, bandleader, studio sideman, producer, label operator and educator — Known also for his head-turning breadth, from swing, standards, and ballads to rockers, gutbucket Chicago blues and rockabilly.

His resume is decorated with Grammy nominations for Best Traditional Blues Album, Handy Awards and Blues Music Awards for Best Blues Guitarist, and other honors for his artistry, recordings and productions. In 1967, he founded Roomful of Blues with Al Copley, in which he performed for 12 years. Then in 1981, he debuted The Duke Robillard Band which underscored his versatility and remains a highlight of his career. Almost a decade later in 1990, Robillard went on to replace Jimmie Vaughan in The Fabulous Thunderbirds. Continuing his solo career, he cut his own much-awaited straight blues album “Duke’s Blues” in 1993. B.B. King himself called Robillard, “One of the great players.”

G.E. Smith is one of the most in-demand blues and rock guitarists in the world. He may be best recognized as the Emmy-award winning bandleader for NBC’s Saturday Night Live that millions of viewers would see on their televisions every week. He has also done extensive touring playing in the bands of Bob Dylan, Roger Waters and recording with artists such as Mick Jagger, Tom Waits and many others. His first big break however came in 1979 when he teamed up with Daryl Hall and John Oates. For the next six years they recorded and toured almost non-stop. Many of Hall and Oates’s biggest records were made during this period. Songs such as “Private Eyes,” “Maneater,” “I Can’t Go for That” and “Out of Touch” propelled Hall and Oates to the top of the popular music world.

“I was really lucky to meet Daryl and John in the summer of 1979,” Smith has said of this time. “I had been living in New York City for about a year at that point playing whatever kind of gig I could pick up."

Tickets for the show range from $39 to $59 at thesuffolk.org. Suffolk Theater is at 118 East Main Street, Riverhead.