Robert Randolph & The Family Band, a multicultural American funk and soul band composed of Robert Randolph, Marcus Randolph (drums), Danyel Morgan (bass), and Jason Crosby (organ), will perform on Saturday at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno.

Randolph, a native of Maplewood, New Jersey, began playing the steel guitar in the House of God Church, which used steel guitars in worship services. Sacred Steel, as it is called, is used in many African American Pentecostal churches, and while playing at a sacred steel convention in Florida, Randolph was discovered.

The group’s sound is inspired by successful 1970s funk bands such as Earth, Wind & Fire and Sly & the Family Stone , another multicultural band comprised of former members of the Church of God in Christ. Randolph himself has also stated that his main influence as a guitarist is Stevie Ray Vaughan.

In September of 2003, Randolph was listed as No. 97 on Rolling Stone’s 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time list.

In 2002 the band hired by ABC to make the network’s new NBA theme song, “We Got Hoops.” In 2005, Randolph, along with Kirk Hammett of Metallica, guested on the song “Trinity” on Santana ‘s album “All That I Am.” The third album, “Colorblind,” was released in October.