Randy’s Musical Journey
Randy Todd is a singer-songwriter with a background in folk, rock, blues, jazz and world music, enriched through study and travel. Recording and performing original music since his early teens, Randy has warmed audiences all over the world with his melodic vocals, thoughtful lyrics, and unique blend of Americana Roots sounds.
Originally from the Northeast, Randy recorded his first full album of originals at 17, Heavenly Blues, collaborating with high school bandmates on a trippy, angst-filled rock project. This was followed by a folksy solo album in 1996 jokingly titled Nag Champa, produced by Brandon Patton, sadly lost in time.
After heading West as a young man, Randy recorded his next LP Downstream, on 2 inch ADAT in 1998 in the Berkeley Hills, using cat bones in a coffee can as a shaker for the percussion tracks, and adding some of the West African drumming he learned from master drummer Abraham Adzinyah while studying music at Wesleyan University.
Downstream was produced by engineer Mark Gould and the late, great, folk artist Laura Allan who got her signature heart-soundhole dulcimer from David Crosby, and was mastered by a studio legend in Mill Valley who wished to remain anonymous – although he is mentioned in the album credits in tiny font. Downstream was notably released in the most eco-friendly format possible at that time, using folded recycled paper for the CD jacket, and printed with soy ink. While the album saw some sales and air play locally in the Bay Area, it was possibly most known for being frequently featured on the radio show of San Francisco personality, disc jockey and well-known hippie Diamond Dave, who swore he smoked Bob Dylan’s first marijuana joint with him and called the song Wheel from the album, “our Anthem,” may he rest in peace.
Following that, in 2002, Randy teamed up with Bay Area jazz jamband artists “Bizar Bazaar” known locally on Jambase and found weekly at the old John Lee Hooker’s “Boom Boom Room,” in the early 2000’s. Together they created the album All is Love featuring Randy’s original music and and the incredible shredding guitars of Michael “Air” Bizar, along with physicist Simon Rochester on keys, wizard “Murph” Murphy on bass, all-talented Ethan Hamilton on sax and flute, and superhuman Lucas Carlton on drums.
After moving south to LA, Randy recorded several live albums from from 2005-2020 in garage band style at “Bubba’s Studio” in Santa Monica, CA. So far unofficially released, these albums helped fuel years-long residencies at the House of Blues, Venice Bistro and other bars, clubs, and coffee houses in Hollywood, Venice, and on the Sunset Strip, many of them just history now.
Now Randy is back on the East Coast working on more music, growing a family, and self-producing, recording and playing his local scene. His latest album Homegrown was released on his own label Wildcraft Music in August 2025 and is available across all streaming platforms, with more on the way.
The success of Randy’s music he says is owed completely to the artists that came before and paved the way, and to those that supported him along the way and made it all possible. His notes his family is his greatest inspiration now, and he is also inspired by and active in his community volunteering. He is still passionate about animals, nature, and protecting the environment, and has been, as he says, “90% vegan” since 1993. He always says he hopes to follow the mantra his mentor, supporter, and friend Laura Allan would often repeat, like the title of her 1997 album with the same name, “Hold On to your Dreams.”
Find Randy Todd’s Music wherever you stream, and keep the faith – more will be coming soon!