Zebra's 50 Years of Musical Brilliance

50 Years of Musical Evolution

For 50 years, the Zebra band has been captivating audiences with their unique sound. As they gear up for their 50th anniversary in 2025, it's a moment of reflection on their musical journey. Randy Jackson, now 69 and residing in South Setauket, shares his thoughts. "50 years is a long time," he says. "It's quite surreal that people are acknowledging this milestone, but it's hard to fully absorb."

This anniversary also marks the band's return to the studio with a long-awaited new studio album. It will be their first release since "Zebra IV" in 2003. Jackson reveals, "The record will encompass a diverse range of songs. We have some gems from 1977 that were never recorded before, songs I collaborated on with others, and a bunch of tunes I wrote recently. It's constantly evolving as we work on it."

Recording at Home Studios: A Creative Journey

The new album is being meticulously crafted at Jackson and Gelso's home studios. With producer Jack Douglas at the helm, the band is excited to collaborate once again. Jackson explains, "This is the first time we've worked on Zebra stuff since 1984. We're eager to see what he's picked up over the years and what we've learned in the past 40. It's a unique opportunity to bring our collective musical wisdom to the forefront."

As they prepare for the release by June, the 12-track album holds great promise. It's a testament to the band's enduring creativity and their ability to adapt and grow over the years.

On the Road and Back: Reigniting the Creative Spark

This year, the band is hitting the road for over 50 shows, and it's reigniting that creative spark. Jackson notes, "We're playing more now than we have in 30 years. The excitement is back, and it's not just about playing once every couple of months. It's about connecting with our fans on a whole new level."

The upcoming show at Westbury Music Fair is set to be a retrospective of the last 50 years. Jackson shares his plans, "We're going to cover a lot of ground. Instead of playing a whole bunch of songs straight through, it might be a good idea to do a couple of medleys of our older stuff. There will be fans who have been with us for a long time, and we want to give them a trip down memory lane."

A Milestone in Band History

Surprisingly, Zebra has achieved another significant milestone – being the longest-running band with all original members. Jackson admits, "It's weird. Out of all the things you could have imagined when you first started, this definitely takes the cake for the oddest."

When asked about the key to the band's longevity, Jackson simply states, "We became family in the beginning within the first five years. You know exactly what to expect from each other. It's like a marriage that has stood the test of time."

Tickets for the May 17 concert go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. via livenation.com. A presale will be held Wednesday at 10 a.m. using the code: DOOR.