Family Company is preserving vintage soul and R&B one life-affirming tribute show at a time. The Los Angeles-based music collective, jamming since 2018, pays homage to the true GOATs of groove — Stevie Wonder, Donny Hathaway, Ray Charles, Bill Withers and more — with live performances by this generation’s funk-loving standouts. Gathering talents from bands like Vulfpeck, Snarky Puppy and Lettuce onstage (mostly at the Troubadour), a Family Company show is the closest any of us will likely get to Soul Train dance-fline vibes in 2024.
The other night I saw my second Family Company tribute, an Aretha Franklin appreciation, which included a surprise performance by a GOAT herself (not to mention an EGOT), Jennifer Hudson. With a Franklin-esque fur around her shoulders and nails spectacularly a-glitter, the woman who the Queen of Soul personally chose to portray her in the biopic sang “Natural Woman” and “Ain’t No Way” to an appreciative crowd.
Like all Family Company shows, the Aretha review was as much about virtuosity and originality as it was a nostalgia trip. Among many highlights: Vulfpeck’s Antwaun Stanley brought big-smile energy to “Make it With You” and “Don’t Play That Song (You Lied).” Liz Vice tapped her gospel roots for “Reach Out and Touch (Somebody’s Hand)” and “You’re All I Need.” And blue-eyed soul stirrer Saygrace heated up the room with a playfully steamy take on “I Never Loved a Man (the Way That I Love You).”
To get a sense of what Family Company does, listen to their shows or check out this gorgeous moment from the Ray Charles tribute a few years back, with Judith Hill on keys and vocals on “Georgia.”
I recently connected with Family Company’s cofounders and core band members Josh Teitelbaum, Alex Kyhn and Jason Goldstein about a music series that keeps getting more soulful.
David Hochman: What’s the quick origin story on Family Company?
Jason Goldstein: We all originally met doing session work in Los Angeles. We got along well, and found ourselves working well as a rhythm section. We accompanied other artists and had fun jamming ourselves before coming up with the idea 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: Getting Judith Hill and Cory Henry together for a duet of Stevie Wonder’s “As.” Madison Ryan Ward’s performance in tribute to Donny Hathaway, and, whoa, playing “Lean On Me” with Mr. Bill Withers himself!
Jason Goldstein: I agree it’s hard to top Bill Withers showing up to the show. But playing Stevie’s “Contusion” and “Too high” and nailing it felt great. Plus, Jennifer Hudson singing “Natural Woman.”
David Hochman: You’ve done tributes to Stevie, Ray, Donny Hathaway, Bill Withers and Aretha. Who’s next?
The three of them: [Silence]
David Hochman: Okay, let me guess. Etta James? James Brown? Sly & The Family Stone?
The three of them: [Silence]
David Hochman: Teddy Pendergrass? Marvin Gaye? Sam Cooke?
Alex Kyhn: Stay tuned for the announcement.
David Hochman: Sounds good. Well, I know it will sound good.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.