Earlier in the week, guitarist Binky Griptite formally announced his departure from The Dap-Kings. After 20 years touring with the band formerly fronted by the late Sharon Jones, Griptite explained that he would be leaving the band to “seek creative opportunities elsewhere.” In addition to working with The Dap-Kings for two decades, Griptite also works as an on-air DJ for New York’s WFUV and leads his own solo project, The Binky Griptite Orchestra.
As Griptite explained in a statement on Facebook,
Dear Dap Kings friends and fans. After 20 years I’ve accepted that I have to leave the band to seek creative opportunities elsewhere. The experiences I’ve had with the Dap Kings have been amazing, I can’t believe how lucky I am to have shared the stage with the people I’ve worked with, especially the band itself. It was fun being your guitar player. My last performance with the band will be Sept 22nd @montereyjazzfestival
After Griptite’s final performance with The Dap-Kings at the Monterey Jazz Festival on September 22nd, The Dap-King’s lineup will consist of bassist and bandleader Gabe “Bosco Mann” Roth, in addition to guitarist Joey Crispiano, drummer Homer Steinweiss, tenor saxophonist Neal Sugarman, baritone saxophonist Cochemea “Cheme” Gastelum, percussionist Fernando “Bugaloo” Velez, and trumpeter Dave Guy.
The Dap-Kings were a major part of the recent funk and soul revival, with the band being nominated for a Best R&B Album Of The Year Grammy in 2014. Founded in the mid-’90s, the band backed the powerful songstress Sharon Jones, who passed away in November of 2016 at the age of 60. In the years since Jones’ death, The Dap-Kings have continued to honor their fallen former bandmate, releasing Soul Of A Woman in November 2017, which featured eleven songs that highlighted the range of Jones’ vocal abilities.
[H/T Jambands]