For two decades, Binky Griptite was the guitarist, emcee and hype man for the Dap-Kings, backing the mighty Sharon Jones. These days he’s leading his own band. The Binky Griptite Orchestra is an old school rhythm and blues outfit in the vein of T-Bone Walker and Louis Jordan. Their album “Got Up and Walked” will be out soon. So will another album Binky produced, by singer-songwriter Brendan O’Hara. He’ll also be at SXSW this month, performing in a tribute concert to Sister Rosetta Tharpe. Today he joins us to talk about his current projects, the story behind the Dap-Kings, working with Sharon Jones and the singer Lee Fields, recording with Janet Jackson, growing up in Milwaukee, deejaying and more.

 

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