Galactic was formed in 1994 by childhood friends Jeff Raines and Robert Mercurio, who had moved to New Orleans to attend college. The two musicians were inspired by the city's rich musical heritage, and they wanted to create a band that would blend elements of funk, jazz, rock, and R&B.
Raines and Mercurio recruited a group of talented musicians to join Galactic, including drummer Stanton Moore, saxophonist Ben Ellman, and keyboardist Richard Vogal. The band quickly made a name for themselves in the New Orleans music scene with their energetic live shows and their eclectic sound.Galactic is a New Orleans-based funk band formed in 1994. The band's current lineup consists of co-founders Jeff Raines (guitar) and Robert Mercurio (bass), as well as Stanton Moore (drums), Ben Ellman (saxophone), and Richard Vogal (keyboards).
Galactic is known for their eclectic and experimental approach to music, which blends elements of funk, jazz, rock, and R&B. The band has released ten studio albums, all of which have been critically
acclaimed. They have also toured extensively throughout the United States and Europe, and they have performed at major music festivals such as Bonnaroo, Coachella, and the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
Galactic is also known for their collaborations with other artists. They have performed and recorded with a wide range of musicians, including Maceo Parker, John Scofield, Ani DiFranco, and Herbie Hancock.
In addition to their own music, Galactic is also actively involved in the New Orleans community. The band is the founder of the Tipitina's Foundation, a nonprofit organization that supports music education and preservation in New Orleans.
Galactic is one of the most popular and respected funk bands in the world. They are known for their innovative music, their energetic live shows, and their commitment to the New Orleans community.
Anjelika "Jelly" Joseph brings her own vibe when she performs with Galactic, which is mostly all the time now. Their styles match so perfectly that you'd think that she's been a part of the band since the beginning~
My experience from Tank and the Bangas to Galactic helped me with the stage. It helped me to be a better performer and enjoy what I do, and kind of take every experience as it is and just keep going forward because that’s what it’s really all about. This is what I chose. So I feel like in every arena of it, I’m going to do my best. So that’s just kind of what I took from it. Just do your best. And no matter what kind of crowd, you got what you got to do.