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{{About|the band|generic usage|Galaxy|specific astronomical usage|Milky Way galaxy|the aviation callsign|Virgin Galactic|other uses|}}
{{Short description|American jam band}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Musicians -->
| name                = Galactic
| background          = group_or_band
| origin              = [[New Orleans]], Louisiana, U.S.
| genre               = [[Jazz-funk]], [[jam band]], [[acid jazz]], [[jazz rap]], [[New Orleans rhythm and blues|New Orleans R&B]]
| years_active        = 1994&ndash;present
| label               = [[Sanctuary Records Group|Sanctuary]], [[ANTI-]], [[Fog City Records|Fog City]], [[Capricorn Records|Capricorn]], Traffic (Japan), Volcano, Mascot, Tchoup-zilla Records
| website             = {{URL|galacticfunk.com}}
| current_members     = {{ubl|Robert Mercurio |Jeff Raines |Richard Vogel |[[Stanton Moore]] |[[Ben Ellman]]|[[Anjelika "Jelly" Joseph]]}}
| past_members        = {{ubl|[[Theryl DeClouet]] |Jason Mingledorff |[[Corey Henry]]<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.offbeat.com/articles/treme-funk-corey-henrys-universe/ |title=Treme Funk: Corey Henry's Universe |author=Wyckoff, Geraldine |date=June 29, 2016 |magazine=[[OffBeat (music magazine)]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160630170642/http://www.offbeat.com/articles/treme-funk-corey-henrys-universe/ |url-status=live |archive-date=June 30, 2016 |quote=In 2000, the Rascals opened for Galactic on a cross-country tour. 'Since then, we were pretty connected,' says Henry, who became a member and has recorded three albums with the band since around 2009. The discs include 2011's The Other Side of Midnight, 2012's Carnivale Electricos and its latest, 2015's Into the Deep.}}</ref> |[[Shamar Allen]]}} 
}}

'''Galactic''' is an American [[funk]] band from [[New Orleans]], Louisiana.

==Origins and background==
Formed in 1994<ref name="Collar">{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/galactic-mn0000191983/biography |title=Galactic: Biography |last=Collar |first=Matt |date=2019 |website=AllMusic |access-date=November 24, 2019}}</ref> as an octet (under the name Galactic Prophylactic) and including singer Chris Lane and guitarist Rob Gowen, the group was soon pared down to a sextet of guitarist Jeff Raines, bassist Robert Mercurio, drummer [[Stanton Moore]], Hammond organist Rich Vogel, [[Theryl DeClouet]] on vocals, and later adding saxophonist Ben Ellman.

The group was started when Raines and Mercurio, childhood friends from affluent [[Chevy Chase, Maryland]], moved to [[New Orleans]] together to attend college at [[Tulane]] and [[Loyola University New Orleans|Loyola]] Universities,<ref name="newtimes">{{cite news |url=http://www.browardpalmbeach.com/2009-01-08/music/galactic-brings-its-space-funk-to-revolution/ |title=Galactic Brings its Space Funk to Revolution |newspaper=[[New Times Broward-Palm Beach]] |date=January 6, 2009 |access-date=February 16, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090218104037/http://www.browardpalmbeach.com/2009-01-08/music/galactic-brings-its-space-funk-to-revolution/ |archive-date=February 18, 2009 |url-status=live |author=Keyes-Kulkarni, Saby}}</ref> became enamored of the local funk scene, populated by such legendary acts as [[The Meters]] and [[Dirty Dozen Brass Band]] and inspired by local legends such as [[Professor Longhair]]. There they teamed with noted New Orleans drummer [[Stanton Moore]],<ref name="newtimes"/> saxophonist/harmonica (now producer) Ben Ellman, Rich Vogel, and Theryl de Clouet. In 2004, the band parted ways with vocalist DeClouet, and continued as an instrumental group until 2007 when they released ''[[From the Corner to the Block]]'' featuring rappers ranging from [[Juvenile (rapper)|Juvenile]], [[Chali 2na]], [[Boots Riley]], and [[Lyrics Born]]. They continue to tour with different vocalists: 2011 and 2012 with [[Cyril Neville]], 2011 through 2014 with [[Corey Glover]], 2014 with Maggie Koerner, from 2015 with Erica Falls. They have also toured with trombonist Corey Henry from 2009 through 2016 and trumpet player Shamarr Allen from 2016.<ref name="newtimes"/> They have released albums consistently since 1996.

==Musical style==
The band has developed a unique sound as a result of their influences, including [[Rock music|rock]], [[funk]], [[brass band]], [[blues]], [[jazz]], [[Hip hop music|hip hop]], [[electronic music|electronic]], and [[world music]].  Many of their songs include performances by other artists of various styles of music, like hip-hop artists [[Boots Riley]] (of [[The Coup]]), [[Gift of Gab (rapper)|Gift of Gab]] (of [[Blackalicious]]) and [[Chali 2na]] (of [[Jurassic 5]]), to vocalists [[Macy Gray]], [[Mavis Staples]], [[Allen Toussaint]], [[Irma Thomas]], David Shaw, [[Mystikal]], [[Mannie Fresh]], and [[JJ Grey & Mofro]]. The European version of ''From the Corner to the Block'' has two tracks more than the US version. One of those tracks ("Valley Of Pain") features the German rapper [[Dendemann]].

==Evolution==
The band's sound has evolved from organic New Orleans funk to a more modern style, incorporating elements of hip hop, electronica, fusion, and jazz.<ref name="newtimes"/>  This change has been largely characterized by the increased use of electronic effects on guitar, bass, saxophone, and drums. Drummer [[Stanton Moore]] uses phrase samplers to sample a rhythm which he can then play over, producing intricate and layered drum sounds. Ben Ellman, saxophonist and harmonica player, often distorts his instruments to the degree that they sound similar to an electric guitar. In 2007, the band began to produce their own albums (mainly Ben Ellman and Robert Mercurio). This opened them up to more studio experimentation and exploration resulting in their loop-, edit- and production-heavy album ''Ya-Ka-May''.

== Tipitina's ==
The band has long considered the legendary New Orleans music venue [[Tipitina's]] an unofficial home base, having recorded a [[We Love 'Em Tonight: Live at Tipitina's|live album]] there, and having performed there regularly since the beginning of their career. This includes annual performances on Halloween, New Year's Eve, during the [[New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival]], and a yearly "sunrise set" on [[Lundi Gras]] (the day preceding [[Mardi Gras]]), appropriately playing until the sun rises on Mardi Gras day.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Spera |first1=Keith |last2=Dicolo |first2=Jerry |date=November 30, 2018 |title=Tipitina's bought by members of New Orleans funk band Galactic, sources say |url=https://www.nola.com/entertainment_life/keith_spera/article_7b49c743-bfdd-5e63-b3f4-c732a8561cc1.html |access-date=April 28, 2020 |website=NOLA.com |language=en}}</ref> In 2018, the members of the band made their association with the venue official, purchasing the venue from the previous owners, Mary and Roland Von Kurnatowski.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/2019/03/02/699155877/galactics-funk-sound-finds-permanent-home-in-legendary-new-orleans-club |title=Galactic's Funk Sound Finds Permanent Home In Legendary New Orleans Club |website=NPR.org |language=en |access-date=March 31, 2019}}</ref>

==Live performances==
The band is noted for inviting guest musicians from New Orleans to perform onstage with them. These include the [[Soul Rebels Brass Band]], [[The Neville Brothers]], [[Brian Seeger]], Corey "Boe Money" Henry, [[George Porter]] of [[The Meters]], [[Dirty Dozen Brass Band]] and [[Skerik]] (a saxophone player who is actually based in [[Seattle, Washington]], but is part of Stanton Moore's side project [[Garage A Trois]]). The band is often on tour, and have shared the stage with acts including [[Live (band)|Live]], [[Counting Crows]], the [[Allman Brothers Band]], [[The Roots]], [[Fusebox Funk]], [[Widespread Panic]], [[B.B. King]], [[Mike Doughty]] (formerly of [[Soul Coughing]]), [[Gift of Gab (rapper)|Gift of Gab]] (of [[Blackalicious]]), [[Jurassic 5]], [[Jack Johnson (musician)|Jack Johnson]], [[Gov't Mule]], [[The Revivalists]], [[The Record Company]], [[Trombone Shorty and Orleans Ave]], [[Toots and the Maytals]], and [[Steel Pulse]].

Galactic performed "I Got It (What You Need)" on ''[[Jimmy Kimmel Live]]'' in 2007. They also performed "Back That Ass Up" and "Rodeo" as [[Juvenile (rapper)|Juvenile]]'s band on Jimmy Kimmel Live in 2006.  Galactic toured North America in 2012 with [[Corey Glover]] and [[Soul Rebels Brass Band]].  On March 29, 2012, Galactic appeared with [[Soul Rebels Brass Band]] and [[Corey Glover]] on ''[[Conan (talk show)|Conan]]'' show on [[TBS (U.S. TV channel)|TBS]].<ref name="The Social.com">{{cite web |title=Soul Rebels on Conan |url=http://www.thesocial.org/2012/03/27/soul-rebels-on-conan-this-thurs-329/ |publisher=Thesocial.org |access-date=April 7, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120407164940/http://www.thesocial.org/2012/03/27/soul-rebels-on-conan-this-thurs-329/ |archive-date=April 7, 2012}}</ref>

In 2015, they performed summer festivals in the US, Canada, and Japan with vocalist [[Macy Gray]]. While on their 2016 tour, Galactic performed on a marine-themed call-in talk show, ''[[FishCenter Live]]''. They correctly guessed the coloration of a [[Holocentrinae|squirrelfish]] and won points for a [[Zebra moray|zebra moray eel]], Eel Hamburger. They headlined the 11th annual Rooster Walk Music and Arts Festival in Martinsville, VA in May 2019.{{Citation needed|date=September 2024}}

==Recent releases==
''Ya-Ka-May'' was released on February 9, 2010, on [[ANTI-]]. The album includes guest performances by a range of New Orleans musicians. Long-established performers such as [[Rebirth Brass Band]], [[Irma Thomas]], Big Chief Bo Dollis of [[The Wild Magnolias]], [[Allen Toussaint]] and [[Walter "Wolfman" Washington]] are represented, along with younger performers in the traditional vein, such as [[Trombone Shorty]] and Corey Henry; [[John Boutté]], Josh Cohen and Ryan Scully of [[Morning 40 Federation]]; and Glen David Andrews; and also [[Bounce music|bounce]] artists [[Cheeky Blakk]], [[Big Freedia]], [[Katey Red]], and [[Sissy Nobby]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Reeves |first=Mosi |title=New New Orleans |newspaper=San Francisco Bay Guardian |date=March 2, 2010 |url=http://www.sfbg.com/2010/03/02/new-new-orleans |access-date=March 4, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Gill |first=Andy |title=Album: Galactic, Ya-Ka-May (Anti) |newspaper=The Independent |date=February 26, 2010 |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-galactic-yakamay-anti-1910883.html |access-date=March 4, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Serwer |first=Jesse |title=New Galactic album 'Ya-Ka-May' is a taste of classic New Orleans |newspaper=Washington Post |date=February 6, 2010 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/05/AR2010020504011.html |access-date=March 4, 2010}}</ref>

Galactic released a live album in May 2011 titled ''The Other Side of Midnight: Live in New Orleans''. This album includes live versions of many songs on ''Ya-Ka-May''.

On February 21, 2012, Galactic released a new studio album, titled ''Carnivale Electricos'', which focused on the theme of Carnivale. They invited artists from New Orleans to flesh out the diversity of the town's music in a virtual Fat Tuesday strut across town: the battle chant of Mardi Gras Indian War Chief Juan Pardo and the Golden Comanches; the voice of Mystikal; and the 40-piece Kipp Renaissance High School marching band. For "Voyage Ton Flag" they sampled the late accordionist Clifton Chenier and carnival-rock number "Hey Na Na (Hey Na)" with David Shaw of New Orleans's Revivalists. Brazil is represented by samba poet Moyseis Marques on "O Coco da Galinha" and by Casa Samba, who retake the forro "Magalenha..." The LP has been described by the band as "a tour" through New Orleans' various styles of music. <ref>Greenhaus, Mike https://relix.com/articles/detail/the-core-galactic/ Relix</ref>

On July 17, 2015, Galactic released a new studio album titled ''Into the Deep''.<ref>{{cite web |author=James Christopher Monger |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/into-the-deep-mw0002850200 |title=Into the Deep - Galactic |website=AllMusic |date=July 17, 2015 |access-date=August 29, 2015}}</ref> It featured [[Macy Gray]], J.J. Grey, David Shaw, Maggie Koerner, and [[Mavis Staples]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/into-the-deep-mw0002850200/credits |title=Into the Deep - Galactic &#124; Credits |website=AllMusic |date=July 17, 2015 |access-date=August 29, 2015}}</ref>

On February 8, 2019, Galactic released their studio album ''Already Ready Already'' via Tchoup-Zilla Records. It was produced by Galactic's own Robert Mercurio and Ben Ellman, and marks the band's 10th studio LP. The album features guest appearances from Erica Falls, Princess Shaw, Miss Charm Taylor, [[David Shaw (musician)|David Shaw]] (The Revivalists), Nahko, and Boyfriend.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Berenson |first=Sam |date=February 8, 2019 |title=Galactic Releases 10th Studio LP 'Already Ready Already' |url=https://liveforlivemusic.com/news/galactic-already-ready-release-19/ |access-date=August 30, 2023 |website=Live for Live Music}}</ref>

On February 7, 2020, Galactic released a single titled "Float Up". The track features Anjelika "Jelly" Joseph.{{fact|date=February 2021}}

In 2023, Galactic released ''Tchompitoulas'', an EP which includes singer Anjelika "Jelly" Joseph, trumpeter Eric Gordon, Afro-Cuban musician [[Cimafunk]], trombonist and singer Glen David Andrews, and rapper [[Eric Biddines]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/tchompitoulas-mw0004009180 |title=Tchompitoulas |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=2023 |website=AllMusic |access-date=February 16, 2024}}</ref>

== Members ==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
'''Current'''
*Robert Mercurio – bass guitar (1994–present)
*Jeff Raines – guitar (1994–present)
*Richard Vogel – [[Hammond organ]] (1994–present)
*[[Stanton Moore]] – drums (1994–present)
*[[Ben Ellman]] – saxophone, harmonica (1994–present)
*Eric Gordon – trumpet (2019–present)
*Angelika "Jelly" Joseph – vocals (2019–present)
{{col-2}}
'''Former'''
*Chris Lane – vocals (1994)
*Rob Gowen – guitar (1994)
*[[Theryl DeClouet]] – vocals (1994–2004)
*Jason Mingledorff – saxophone (1997–1998)

'''Touring'''
*Cyril Neville – vocals (2011, 2012)
*[[Corey Glover]] – vocals (2011–2014)
*Maggie Koerner – vocals (2014)
*Erica Falls – vocals (2015–2019)
*Corey Henry – trombone (2009–2016)
*Shamarr Allen – trumpet (2016–2019?)
{{col-end}}

=== Timeline ===
{{#tag:timeline|
ImageSize = width:800 height:auto barincrement:20
PlotArea = left:100 bottom:95 top:0 right:20
Alignbars = justify
DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy
Period = from:01/01/1994 till:{{#time:m/d/Y}}
TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy
Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:3
ScaleMajor = increment:2 start:1994
ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1994

Colors =
  id:Vocals   value:red        legend:Vocals
  id:Guitar   value:green      legend:Guitar
  id:Bass     value:blue       legend:Bass
  id:Keys     value:purple     legend:Organ
  id:Sax      value:tan2       legend:Saxophone,_harmonica
  id:Trom     value:coral      legend:Trombone
  id:Trumpet  value:skyblue    legend:Trumpet
  id:Drums    value:orange     legend:Drums
  id:bar      value:black      legend:Studio_album

LineData =
  at:07/30/1996  color:black  layer:back
  at:09/01/1998  color:black  layer:back
  at:04/04/2000  color:black  layer:back
  at:10/07/2003  color:black  layer:back
  at:08/21/2007  color:black  layer:back
  at:02/09/2010  color:black  layer:back
  at:02/21/2012  color:black  layer:back
  at:07/17/2015  color:black  layer:back
  at:02/08/2018  color:black  layer:back

BarData =
 bar:DeClouet    text:"Theryl DeClouet"
 bar:Lane        text:"Chris Lane"
 bar:Neville     text:"Cyril Neville"
 bar:Glover      text:"Corey Glover"
 bar:Koerner     text:"Maggie Koerner"
 bar:Falls       text:"Erica Falls"

 bar:Raines      text:"Jeff Raines"
 bar:Gowen       text:"Rob Gowen"

 bar:Mercurio    text:"Robert Mercurio"

 bar:Vogel       text:"Richard Vogel"

 bar:Ellman      text:"Ben Ellman"
 bar:Mingledorff text:"Jason Mingledorff"

 bar:Henry       text:"Corey Henry"

 bar:Allen       text:"Shamarr Allen"

 bar:Moore       text:"Stanton Moore"

PlotData =
  width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4)
 bar:DeClouet     from:start      till:01/01/2004 color:Vocals
 bar:Lane         from:start      till:06/01/1994 color:Vocals
 bar:Neville      from:01/01/2011 till:12/31/2012 color:Vocals
 bar:Glover       from:01/01/2011 till:06/01/2014 color:Vocals
 bar:Koerner      from:06/01/2014 till:12/31/2014 color:Vocals
 bar:Falls        from:01/01/2015 till:12/31/2015 color:Vocals

 bar:Raines       from:start      till:end        color:Guitar
 bar:Gowen        from:start      till:06/01/1994 color:Guitar

 bar:Mercurio     from:start      till:end        color:Bass

 bar:Vogel        from:start      till:end        color:Keys

 bar:Ellman       from:start      till:end        color:Sax
 bar:Mingledorff  from:01/01/1997 till:12/31/1998 color:Sax

 bar:Henry        from:01/01/2009 till:12/31/2016 color:Trom

 bar:Allen        from:01/01/2016 till:end        color:Trumpet

 bar:Moore        from:start      till:end        color:Drums
}}

==Discography==
'''Studio albums'''
* ''[[Coolin' Off]]'' (Fog City Records, 1996)
* ''[[Crazyhorse Mongoose]]'' (SBCMG, 1998)
* ''[[Late for the Future]]'' (Volcano, 2000)
* ''[[Ruckus (album)|Ruckus]]'' (Volcano, 2002)
* ''[[From the Corner to the Block]]'' (Anti/Epitaph, 2007)
* ''Ya-Ka-May'' ([[ANTI-|Anti]], 2010) – US ''Billboard'' 200 No. 161<ref name="BB200">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/galactic/chart-history/tlp/ |title=Galactic – Chart history |magazine=Billboard |access-date=May 8, 2024}}</ref>
* ''inFAMOUS 2 (The Blue Soundtrack)'' (Sony Classical, 2010) [With The Black Heart Procession, Brain, JD Mayer, and Jim Dooly]
* ''[[Carnivale Electricos]]'' (Anti, 2012) – US ''Billboard'' 200 No. 118<ref name="BB200"/>
* ''[[Into the Deep (album)|Into the Deep]]'' (Provogue, 2015)
* ''Already Ready Already'' (Tchoup-zilla Records, 2019)
* ''Audience with the Queen (with Irma Thomas)'' (Tchoup-zilla Records, 2025)

'''Live albums'''
* ''[[We Love 'Em Tonight: Live at Tipitina's]]'' ([[Volcano Records|Volcano]], 2001)
* ''The Other Side of Midnight: Live in New Orleans'' (Anti, 2011)

'''Compilation album'''
* ''[[Vintage Reserve]]'' (Volcano, 2003)

'''Other appearances'''
* ''[[Goin' Home: A Tribute to Fats Domino]]'' ([[Vanguard Records|Vanguard]], 2007) – performing "[[Going to the River]]" with [[Robbie Robertson]] and "So Long" with [[Big Chief Monk Boudreaux]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/goin-home-a-tribute-to-fats-domino-mw0000750410 |title=Goin' Home: A Tribute to Fats Domino - Various Artists {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits |website=AllMusic |language=en-us |access-date=January 24, 2019}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.galacticfunk.com/ Official website]
* {{AllMusic | id=mn0000191983 | title=Galactic}}
* {{Discogs artist}}
{{Galactic}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:American funk musical groups]]
[[Category:Rock music groups from Louisiana]]
[[Category:Jam bands]]
[[Category:Musical groups from New Orleans]]
[[Category:Capricorn Records artists]]
[[Category:Anti- (record label) artists]]