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A backup band or backing band is a musical ensemble that typically accompanies a single artist who is the featured performer. The situation may be a live performance or in a recording session, and the group may or may not have its own name, such as "The Heartbreakers" , or "Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys" in the 1930s. Often, backup bands contain sidemen who are skilled but not known to the public; these musicians may be replaced or substituted at any time without noticeable impact on the performance.
A number of cohesive stand-alone groups of musicians have emerged from the shadow of the starring celebrity to achieve a stature of their own. An example is the Eagles in 1971, emerging from being the backing band for Linda Rondstadt. Another example is The Band, a group who backed Bob Dylan on his world tour in 1966, his first tour with electric instruments.
A backing band may also be a cadre of elite studio musicians who serve as a house band for major studios. The same musicians may perform on records by a number of different artists. Examples are Stax Records' band, Booker T. & the M.G.'s; Detroit's The Funk Brothers; and Nashville's A-Team.