Stro Elliot is an American producer, multi-instrumentalist, and member of the hip hop band The Roots, joining the band in 2017. Elliot plays keyboards, percussion, and does sampling with The Roots in the house band for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.[1] As a multi-instrumentalist, Stro employs elements of beatbox, percussion, sampling, tambourine, finger drumming, and keyboards.
Stro Elliot | |
|---|---|
 Stro Elliot with Questlove at The Blue Note Jazz Club, 2024 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Brian Roberson |
| Also known as | The 89th Key |
| Genres | |
| Occupation | Musician |
| Member of | The Roots, The Tonight Show Band |
| Formerly of | The Procussions |
| Website | www.stroelliot.com |
Elliot was living in Los Angeles, CA for 15 years before joining The Roots in 2017 after being invited by Questlove.[2] He has cited DJ Jazzy Jeff as one of his mentors, who encouraged him to take the job on The Tonight Show.[3]
Stro Elliot was an original member of The Procussions, an underground rap group that formed in 1998 in Colorado Springs, along with Mr. J. Medeiros, Resonant (aka Rez), Qq, and Vise Versa. The Procussions toured with Common, the Pharcyde, Xzibit, Talib Kweli, Mos Def, Run-DMC and Ugly Duckling.
Elliot is a classically trained musician, who grew up playing guitar, piano, trumpet, and drums.[4]
Discography
editAlbums
edit- La Villa, Def Pressé Editions, 2023
- Black & Loud: James Brown Reimagined by Stro Elliot, Republic Records, 2022
- Stro's Old Beat Farm, Street Corner Music, 2022
- Stro Elliot, Street Corner Music, 2016
As featured on
edit- "Stay Alive (Interlude)" (J.Period and Stro Elliot), On The Hamilton Mixtape, Atlantic, 2016
References
edit- ^ Vincenty, Samantha (January 4, 2024). "All About The Tonight Show Band, The Roots". NBC.
- ^ "The Questions: Questlove on Roots Picnic Prep and Finding The Perfect DJ". Okayplayer. June 10, 2017.
- ^ Eustice, Kyle (December 26, 2018). "Stro Elliot Shares How The Roots & DJ Jazzy Jeff Prepped His 'Jimmy Fallon' Gig". HipHopDX.
- ^ Mayo, James (January 1, 2004). "Turning Pro". Westword.