Family Company is preserving vintage soul and R&B, one life-affirming tribute event at a time. The Los Angeles-based music collective pays tribute to the true GOATs of groove — Stevie Wonder, Donny Hathaway, Ray Charles, Bill Withers, and others — with live performances by today’s funk-loving standouts and a rhythm section reminiscent of Stax and Muscle Shoals. A Family Company event, which brings together talent from bands such as Vulfpeck, Snarky Puppy, and Lettuce onstage (primarily at the Troubadour), is the closest we’ll likely get to Soul Train dance-line vibes in 2024.
My second Family Company homage, an Aretha Franklin appreciation, featured a surprise performance by Jennifer Hudson, a GOAT (not to mention an EGOT). The woman who the Queen of Soul herself chose to represent her in the movie sang “Natural Woman” and “Ain’t No Way” to an admiring audience while wearing Franklin-esque fur over her shoulders and nails that sparkled magnificently.
The Aretha review, like many Family Company shows, was both virtuosic and creative, as well as a nostalgic trip. Among the numerous highlights were Vulfpeck’s Antwaun Stanley’s energetic performances of “Make it With You” and “Don’t Play That Song (You Lied).” Liz Vice drew on her gospel background for “Reach Out and Touch (Somebody’s Hand)” and “You’re All I Need.” Blue-eyed soul stirrer Saygrace warmed up the crowd with a delightfully hot rendition of “I Never Loved a Man (the Way That I Love You).”
The tribute shows are merely a portion of what Family Company performs. The band mostly produces original music (they’ve released seven EPs and serve as a rhythm section for other artists). To get a feel of what a Family Company tribute event is like, listen here or watch this stunning moment from a Ray Charles tribute from a few years ago, with Judith Hill on piano and vocals on “Georgia On My Mind.”
I recently spoke with Family Company cofounders and core band members Josh Teitelbaum, Alex Kyhn, and Jason Goldstein about a music series that’s only growing more soulful.
David Hochman: What’s the quick backstory on Family Company?
Jason Goldstein: We first met while performing session work in Los Angeles. We got along well and performed effectively as a rhythm section. We accompanied other musicians and had fun jamming before deciding to put on a Bill Withers tribute.
Josh Teitelbaum: That was six years ago. Doing this as a series was unintentional. Originally, we just set out to pay tribute to Bill Withers by performing his 1972 Live at Carnegie Hall record from the top down, with many amazing supporting musicians and singers.
Then something extraordinary happened. Bill himself unexpectedly showed up that night—shocking in and of itself. But it was also quite fulfilling and eye opening to see how bringing together the artists and bringing together the crowd made us feel. We quickly realized we should be a “band,” and since that tribute show, we have recorded several records and played several more shows.
David Hochman: What’s the goal with these shows?
Alex Kyhn: To have a fun night, to set an atmosphere of celebration and love, and to also present a musical experience of the highest caliber.
Josh Teitelbaum: To play our favorite music with such talent surrounding us is incredibly fulfilling. It is also rewarding to bring people together for what always winds up to be a very special and musically healing night. It is also an opportunity to connect with musicians who share a love for the music, and dream up different combinations of song choice, instrumentation, etc.
David Hochman: You’ve had some incredible guest musicians, from Cory Henry and Louis Cato to Theo Katzman and, wow, Jennifer Hudson. How tough is it wrangling talent like that?
Josh Teitelbaum: The music community is smaller than the typical person thinks it is, so most of the folks we’ve worked with are either an existing relationship with one of us, or one degree of separation away.
Alex Kyhn: People want to be a part of something cool. So the challenge is just making the show exciting enough and praying that schedules align.
Jason Goldstein: Honestly, once Bill Withers came to our Bill Withers tribute, reaching out to our “big ask” singers got a little easier. Plus, everyone in LA knows someone, our first choice collaborators are never too far out of reach… So far everyone has been totally interested and wanting to join the fun, however dealing with everyones touring schedule is usually the issue.
David Hochman: Give me a quick top-three favorite moments from these performances.
Josh Teitelbaum: (1) Definitely Bill showing up at the first show. (2) Unrehearsed moments from the Donny and Ray tributes with Louis Cato that wound up being magical. (3) Jennifer Hudson coming to sing with us at the Aretha tribute the other night.
Alex Kyhn is bringing Judith Hill and Cory Henry together for a duet of Stevie Wonder’s “As.” Madison Ryan Ward’s tribute to Donny Hathaway, and wow, playing “Lean On Me” with Mr. Bill Withers himself!
Jason Goldstein: I believe that Bill Withers’ appearance on the show is difficult to top. But nailing Stevie’s “Contusion” and “Too High” felt amazing. Jennifer Hudson performs “Natural Woman.”
