Randy Oxford’s remarkable career!

Randy Oxford, trombonist and leader of the Randy Oxford Band, recently announced his retirement from all aspects of the music business. Randy has had a remarkable career, spanning four decades. He’s recorded many CDs, performed across the United States, Canada, and Central America, taken his band to the finals of the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, won over 20 Washington Blues Society Best of the Blues Awards, including Entertainer of the Year, and been elected to the WBS Hall of Fame. In other activities, he founded the Mountain Rhythm and Blues Festival in Ashford, WA, started a popular Facebook page, The Randy Oxford Music Forum, and organized 70th, 75th, and 80th birthday tributes to Pacific Northwest music legend “Little Bill” Engelhart.

Q – Congratulations on a long and successful career. Was there anything in particular that led you to decide to retire at this time?
A – No, other than having time away from the music business during quarantine to think about things. Although I still have opportunities in the future to play some real cool gigs in the U.S., Canada and abroad, this feels like the right time for me to call it a career. Going full speed ahead in the music business for more than four decades feels like enough. I will continue to be a big supporter of live music and the musicians who perform it. Now I will be out in the audience cheering them on. That’s something I’ve always loved to do when I wasn’t performing.

Q – When did you first start playing music? Was there anyone who was especially helpful in the beginning?
A – I started playing the trombone in grade school, and it’s the only instrument I’ve ever played professionally. At my high school, just west of Chicago, we had a great music program. Steve Hoernemann was my band director. He had a big influence on me. He showed me how to approach music as a full-time career, and not get distracted by anything else.

Q – How do you get into playing professionally?
A –  Although I was a “wannabe” hippie stoner type in high school my father was able to talk me into auditioning for the U.S. Army Band. I thought he was crazy when he first mentioned it, but I auditioned anyway at the Great Lakes Naval Base in Chicago. After I passed the audition, I was still skeptical. Then they told me there was an opening for a trombone player in Berlin, Germany. BINGO!  All I had to do was make it through boot camp and I was on my way to getting paid to play trombone, right out of high school. After boot camp and the Armed Forces School of Music in Norfolk, Virginia I was off to Germany for 3 years. I had so much fun playing music full time, with some really good musicians, that I signed up for an additional three years, with a guaranteed spot in Monterey, California.  I think that being in the Army Band for six years was the best thing I could have done. Going to college wouldn’t have given me the massive amount of playing time I got in the Army, not to mention a decent paycheck. I would highly recommend to any young instrumentalist coming out of high school that they consider auditioning for a military band. It changed my life and jump started my career as a professional musician.

Q – Besides playing in the Army Band, what are some other experiences that shaped your development as a musician or band leader?
A – Something that really helped my career was hosting jams. Beginning in 2000 I was hosting four jams a week around the Pacific Northwest. I’d hire a different featured artist for each one. It enabled me to meet and play with many great musicians. Some of them later joined The Randy Oxford Band. I was also lucky to play in some of the top Pacific Northwest bands before starting my own band, which helped me learn what to do and what not to do as a band leader. Playing with Little Bill and the Bluenotes for eight years was a great experience, and Bill was really my mentor in terms of being a band leader. I ended up being the only vegetarian trombone player leading his own blues band in the music world. LOL! I also really enjoyed playing and touring with Junkyard Jane, and recorded four CDs with them.

Another great experience was being a jam host and performer on the Legendary Rhythm and Blues Cruise for 16 years. Also, for the last 6 years I was a member of the Bender Brass, the house band for The Big Blues Bender, a week-long festival in Las Vegas. I got to back up many of the big names who played the event, including Delbert McClinton, Bobby Rush, and Curtis Salgado.

Q – You’ve had a lot of outstanding musicians come through the Randy Oxford Band over the years. Are there any that had a significant impact on your music, or on the direction of the band?
A – It would be a monumental task to mention any particular names, because there were so many over the 17 years that I was a band leader. I was fortunate to be able to tap into amazing talent time and time again.  Hosting so many jams helped me meet some stellar musicians and really honorable human beings.

My situation was a little different from most band leaders because I don’t sing, so I got to feature many different vocalists. I also always featured at least two guitar players. My goal as a band leader was to showcase every member of the group at every show and give them a chance to shine. I had a reputation for this, which along with the ability to book quality gigs helped me attract top talent. 

Q – This past year presented unprecedented challenges to the local musical community. But even before the pandemic, we saw the closing of the Highway 99 Blues Club in Seattle and other area music venues. There’s also concern that the blues audience is aging, and not being replaced by young people, who are more into other kinds of music. How would you assess the current blues scene, and where do you see things going?
A – That’s a tough question to answer. These are strange times indeed for the music industry. My heart goes out to the venue owners who were shut down for almost an entire year. It’s been very difficult for festival and concert promoters too.  It seems like live performances were the first thing to be cancelled, and the last thing to bounce back. Hopefully, we will see a full return this year.

As for the average blues fan getting older, I see a trend at many major festivals that looks promising. There’s more and more variety in the music being played at so called “blues festivals,” and I think that is helping attract music fans of all ages. I believe that with the right balance of old and new sounds live blues music will be supported by the younger generation. I also always encourage my fellow band leaders to mix in some young talent with the more established musicians in their lineups. This has worked well for me over the years and helps draw an audience of all ages.

Another thing that’s encouraging is seeing how popular the blues is around the world. I’ve put together blues show in the U.S. and Canada with an international band that included musicians from many different countries, including England, Scotland, Russia, Mexico, and Portugal. These shows often consisted of ten or more musicians, and the age of the players ranged from 17 to 70 years old. (Editor’s Note: Randy’s last international show, taped in Canada, will be streamed on April 24 as a retirement tribute. It can be found at https://www.bluefrogstudios.ca).

Q – Based on all your experience, is there any advice you’d like off to your fellow musicians, especially younger ones in the early stages of trying to build their career?
A – My general advice would be to make music your number one priority. Try to participate in multiple jam sessions each week in order to network with other musicians. Donate your time and talent by performing at charitable fundraising events. Help other musicians find bands and gigs whenever you can. It always pays off one way or another. The music business is a family and a community. And don’t be discouraged by being turned down by a venue or a festival. Many of my most high-profile gigs took me years to get. Stay persistent. It’s the nature of the music business to be turned down 90% of the time. Of those gigs you do get, make them count. Quality over quantity will be more rewarding in the long run.

Q – Any closing words or final thoughts as you consider your career?
A – One thing I’m proud of is that I helped bring the trombone to the forefront and make it more of a lead instrument in the blues. On a personal note, I want to send out a heartfelt “thank you” to all in the music world, onstage and off, and to the many fans who have enriched my life in so many ways. I’ve had a fun and fulfilling career that I would not trade for anything in the world. I am truly fortunate and incredibly grateful to have met so many amazing souls along the way.

Faith, Hope and Love have gotten me through both the tough times and the good times in my career, and I know these things will get me through this next stage of my life too.

CHEERS EVERYONE!