Binky Griptite was born in 1966 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and eventually moved to New York City in 1996. He first gained prominence in the house band for Desco Records, Soul Providers, later co-founding The Dap-Kings alongside members of that collective. As the Dap-Kings' guitarist for over two decades, he contributed to albums by Sharon Jones and helped shape the soul/funk revival, even earning a Grammy nomination for "Give the People What They Want" in 2014. Beyond the band, Binky has played on records with artists like Janet Jackson and Amy Winehouse, toured with Winehouse in 2007 and leads his own projects, including The Mellomatics and The Binky Griptite Orchestra.
Rooted in soul
Binky's guitar approach is deeply rooted in soul, R&B and vintage rock, favoring groove and songcraft over flashy soloing. He actively rejected the trend of guitar virtuosity prevalent in modern blues and rock, drawing instead on influences from Funkadelic's Eddie Hazel, Booker T. & the M.G.'s Steve Cropper and Curtis Mayfield. His sound is characterized by tight rhythm playing as he considers drums and groove the foundation of any track, often shopping for records based on their drum sound. Additionally, he brings a disciplined blend of early R&B chord progressions and vintage jazz to his work with The Binky Griptite Orchestra.
