The Blues Brothers
| Company type | Revue ensemble |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1978 |
| Founder | Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi |
| Headquarters | United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Steve Cropper, Donald "Duck" Dunn, Matt "Guitar" Murphy, "Blue" Lou Marini, Tom "Bones" Malone, Alan "Mr. Fabulous" Rubin |
| Products | Live performances, albums, films |
The Blues Brothers represent an American blues and soul revue ensemble established in 1978 by comedians Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi, both original members of the Saturday Night Live cast.
The act showcased lead singer "Joliet" Jake Blues (Belushi) alongside his brother Elwood (Aykroyd), who played harmonica while handcuffed to a briefcase. Their signature look included coordinated black suits, ties, trilby hats, and dark sunglasses. The group featured veteran musicians such as Steve "The Colonel" Cropper, Donald "Duck" Dunn, Matt "Guitar" Murphy, "Blue" Lou Marini, Tom "Bones" Malone, and Alan "Mr. Fabulous" Rubin.
Their initial appearance took place on the April 22, 1978, edition of Saturday Night Live, hosted by Steve Martin. After assembling a complete band, they served as the opening act for Martin during his September 1978 residency at the Universal Amphitheatre. Recordings from this engagement were released as the live album Briefcase Full of Blues on November 28, which reached number one on the charts and earned platinum certification. They subsequently released additional albums. The band also opened for the Grateful Dead at Winterland Arena's final concert in San Francisco and rose to greater prominence with the 1980 comedy film The Blues Brothers. They hold the distinction of being the most commercially successful blues revue group in history.
After Belushi's passing in 1982, the band persisted with various guest vocalists and rotating members. They reunited for a global tour in 1988 and once more in 1998 to support the sequel film Blues Brothers 2000.
Origins
The genesis of The Blues Brothers traces back to a Saturday Night Live sketch aired on January 17, 1976, featuring Belushi singing and Aykroyd playing harmonica while dressed as bees. In 1978, guitarist Arlen Roth joined their stage performances, contributing to the development of their musical direction. Following SNL tapings, Aykroyd's Holland Tunnel Blues bar became a focal point for blues music evolution and served as the drafting site for the screenplay of the Blues Brothers film.
At this venue, Aykroyd introduced Belushi to blues music, fostering collaborations with local blues ensembles. The name "The Blues Brothers" was proposed by SNL bandleader Howard Shore. Aykroyd acknowledged that artists like Sam and Dave, John Lee Hooker, along with jazz musicians’ fashion choices, influenced the act’s aesthetic.
Their inspiration partly stemmed from Aykroyd’s involvement with Toronto’s Downchild Blues Band, one of Canada’s pioneering professional blues groups. Aykroyd occasionally performed with them and based Elwood Blues partially on Donnie Walsh; meanwhile, Belushi’s Jake Blues drew influence from lead singer Hock Walsh and Curtis Salgado. Their debut album, Briefcase Full of Blues (1978), featured three tracks originally performed by Downchild that reflected Hock Walsh’s vocal style.
Belushi’s passion for blues intensified in October 1977 after meeting blues singer and harmonica player Curtis Salgado during a film shoot in Eugene, Oregon. Salgado’s enthusiasm and musical style inspired Belushi to transition from rock and disco toward blues, leading to the creation of The Blues Brothers alongside Aykroyd.
In July 2024, John Belushi’s official Facebook page highlighted his wife Judith’s pivotal contribution to shaping The Blues Brothers brand alongside Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi himself. Judith Belushi Pisano received recognition for her commitment to maintaining John’s legacy and supporting the band's enduring impact.
Belushi shared the stage with Salgado performing songs such as Floyd Dixon’s "Hey, Bartender," incorporating humorous alternate lyrics to "I Don't Know," which appeared during their debut performance on SNL:
Band formation
With the assistance of pianist and arranger Paul Shaffer, Belushi and Aykroyd put together a group of accomplished studio musicians, including SNL saxophonist "Blue" Lou Marini and trombone-saxophone player Tom Malone, both formerly associated with Blood, Sweat & Tears. Shaffer also enlisted guitarist Steve Cropper and bassist Donald "Duck" Dunn, the celebrated duo from Booker T. & the M.G.'s who were instrumental in creating iconic 1960s Stax Records tracks.
In search of a commanding trumpet player and blues guitarist, Belushi recruited Juilliard-trained trumpeter Alan Rubin alongside guitarist Matt "Guitar" Murphy, noted for his work with prominent blues artists.
Belushi’s distinctive appearance was inspired by John Lee Hooker's Ray-Ban Wayfarer sunglasses and his trademark soul patch.
Sound
During the 1998 documentary Stories Behind the Making of The Blues Brothers, Cropper addressed doubts regarding the band's Hollywood roots, emphasizing Belushi’s vocal abilities as comparable to many professional singers. He also noted Belushi’s early drumming background and innate sense of rhythm.
Albums, early gigs, character backgrounds
The Blues Brothers released their first album, Briefcase Full of Blues (1978), recorded while opening for Steve Martin at Los Angeles' Universal Amphitheatre. The album topped the Billboard 200, earned double platinum certification, and featured Top 40 singles such as "Soul Man" and "Rubber Biscuit".
The album’s liner notes crafted a fictional backstory for Jake and Elwood: raised in a Roman Catholic orphanage in Rock Island, Illinois, they learned blues music from a janitor named Curtis, with their brotherhood symbolized by cutting their middle fingers and tying them with a string from Elmore James' guitar.
The band served as opening act for the Grateful Dead’s final Winterland concert on New Year’s Eve 1978, sharing the stage with New Riders of the Purple Sage.
Their first studio album was the soundtrack to the Blues Brothers film; its single "Gimme Some Lovin'" reached the Top 40 and supported a 1980 tour beginning at Poplar Creek Music Theater. This tour produced the live album Made in America, recorded at Universal Amphitheatre. The single "Who's Making Love" peaked at No. 39; this marked Belushi’s final recording as Jake Blues.
Belushi’s wife Judith Jacklin and friend Tino Insana co-wrote Blues Brothers: Private, which expanded on the band’s story and origins from the first film.
In 1981, Best of the Blues Brothers was released containing unreleased tracks and alternate live versions; further compilations followed. The 1998 UK CD release The Complete Blues Brothers included The Lamont Cranston Band's "Excuse Moi Mon Cheri", previously available only as a b-side to "Soul Man".
Belushi passed away on March 5, 1982, due to an accidental heroin-cocaine overdose.
Following Belushi’s death, updated lineups of The Blues Brothers have appeared on SNL and at various charitable or political events. Aykroyd has performed alongside Jim Belushi ("Zee" Blues) and John Goodman ("Mighty Mack" McTeer). Official tribute bands regularly perform at Universal Studios locations in Florida and Hollywood.
In 1995, they collaborated with Italian singer Zucchero Fornaciari for a concert honoring John Belushi’s birthday; this performance was recorded at the House of Blues.
A planned animated sitcom starring Jake and Elwood was canceled after eight episodes in 1997; Peter Aykroyd and Jim Belushi provided voices for Elwood and Jake respectively.
To promote Blues Brothers 2000 (1998), Dan Aykroyd, Jim Belushi, and John Goodman performed during Super Bowl XXXI halftime alongside ZZ Top and James Brown.
Aykroyd parlayed his blues advocacy into partial ownership of the House of Blues nightclub chain; in Italy, Zucchero owns the brand and used it during his 2016 Black Cat tour.
Jim Belushi briefly toured as "Zee Blues" and recorded Blues Brothers and Friends: Live from Chicago's House of Blues with Aykroyd. They subsequently released an album under their own names: Belushi/Aykroyd – Have Love Will Travel.
In 2004, The Blues Brothers Revival debuted in Chicago with approval from John Belushi’s estate, featuring a storyline where Elwood rescues Jake from limbo.
At present, The Blues Brothers featuring Elwood and Zee perform regularly at House of Blues venues and casinos throughout North America, supported by Jim Belushi's Sacred Hearts Band. Meanwhile, The Original Blues Brothers Band continues touring worldwide with founding members Steve Cropper and Lou Marini; lead vocalists include Bobby "Sweet Soul" Harden, Rob "The Honeydripper" Papparozi, and Tommy "Pipes" McDonnel, occasionally joined by Eddie Floyd.
Until 2017, Aykroyd hosted the weekly program House of Blues Radio Hour as Elwood Blues; it was succeeded by The Sam T. Blues Revue, airing Wednesday evenings on KHBT.
The Blues Brothers
Released in 1980 and directed by John Landis, The Blues Brothers showcased memorable car chases featuring the Bluesmobile alongside musical performances from legends such as Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Cab Calloway, Ray Charles, and John Lee Hooker. Set in Chicago, the narrative follows Jake Blues, recently paroled, and his brother Elwood as they embark on a divinely inspired mission to reunite their band and secure funds to save their childhood orphanage. Throughout their journey, they are pursued by law enforcement, a country music group, and the Illinois Nazis. The film earned $57 million domestically, making it the 10th highest-grossing film of 1980, with an additional $58 million from international markets.
Blues Brothers 2000
Also helmed by Landis, the 1998 sequel did not achieve the commercial success of its predecessor but featured an expanded roster of musical talent. Set eighteen years later, the storyline follows Elwood’s release from prison following Jake’s passing. Elwood brings the band back together with new members including Mighty Mack (portrayed by John Goodman) and Cab (Joe Morton), Curtis’s son who serves as a police officer. Original band members return alongside musicians like Aretha Franklin and James Brown. Guest appearances include artists such as Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, and the Louisiana Gator Boys, a supergroup led by B.B. King. The band navigates challenges from law enforcement, the Russian mafia, and a white supremacist militia before competing in a Louisiana Battle of the Bands overseen by voodoo queen Moussette (Erykah Badu). Notably, original keyboardist Paul Shaffer makes his first on-screen appearance with the band during a performance.
Full stage musical
The Blues Brothers Musical
The inaugural full-length Blues Brothers stage production debuted in 2020 in Tauranga, New Zealand. Created and directed by Gordy Lockhart and Liam Hagan and produced by Tauranga Musical Theatre, the team secured rights from Judy Belushi and Dan Aykroyd after extensive negotiations. Due to licensing limitations, the production presents an original storyline instead of adapting the film script, resulting in The Blues Brothers - First Contact.
The Blues Brothers – First Contact
Show Synopsis
Jake and Elwood Blues are released from Joliet Detention Center and immediately conscripted into the US military under direct orders from the Commander in Chief. Five years prior, SETI researchers intercepted a signal originating from Gamma Proteous 5 within the Carina Nebula. Presently, a CIA-led mission is preparing for initial contact with extraterrestrials at Area 56 located in the Dark Mountains of Global Region Echo.
Concerned about declining morale among American Joint Special Forces stationed at Area 56 after five years of deployment, the President attributes this to insufficient entertainment options. He directs the Joint Chiefs to find a musical act capable of lifting spirits—assigning Jake and Elwood the task of saving humanity while facilitating interstellar diplomacy.
Soundtrack albums
| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | |||
| 1980 | The Blues Brothers | 13 | Atlantic |
Live albums
| Year | Album | Highest chart ranking | Record label |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | |||
| 1978 | Briefcase Full of Blues | 1 | Atlantic |
| 1980 | Made in America | 49 | |
| 1997 | Blues Brothers and Friends: Live from Chicago's House of Blues | — | (House of Blues) |
| 2025 | The Lost Recordings | — | Z2 |
Compilation albums
| Year | Album | Highest chart ranking | Record label |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | |||
| 1981 | Best of the Blues Brothers | 143 | Atlantic |
| 1983 | Dancin' wid da Blues Brothers | — | |
| 1988 | Everybody Needs Blues Brothers | — | |
| 1992 | The Definitive Collection | — | |
| 1995 | The Very Best of The Blues Brothers | — | Atlantic/EastWest |
| 1998 | The Blues Brothers Complete | — | |
| 2003 | The Essentials | — | Atlantic |
| 2005 | Gimme Some Lovin' & Other Hits | — | Flashback Records |
| 2008 | American Music Legends | — | Rhino Custom Products/Cracker Barrel Old Country Store |
| 2017 | The Blues Brothers: An Introduction | — | Atlantic Records/Rhino Records |
| 2017 | Drop the Needle on the Hits: The Best of the Blues Brothers | — | Rhino Records |
Singles
| Year | Single title | Highest chart ranking | Source album | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1979 | "Soul Man" | 14 | Briefcase Full of Blues (1978) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Rubber Biscuit" | 37 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1980 | "Gimme Some Lovin'" | 18 | The Blues Brothers: Music from the Soundtrack (1980) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1981 | "Who's Making Love" | 39 | Made in America (1980) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
"Going Back to Miami" | 108 | "Made in America" (1980) |
Bootlegs
Additional Contributions
- 1998 – Soundtrack for Blues Brothers 2000 (Universal Records)
The Elwood Blues Revue
Concert recordings
- 1988 – Atlantic Records 40th Anniversary (Atlantic) (credited as The Elwood Blues Revue)
Other projects
- 1988 – Soundtrack for The Great Outdoors (Atlantic) (credited as The Elwood Blues Revue)
- 1992 – Soundtrack for Nothing but Trouble (Warner Bros/WEA) (credited as The Elwood Blues Revue)
The Blues Brothers Band
Albums in studio
- 1992 – Red, White & Blues (WEA)
- 2017 – The Last Shade of Blue Before Black (The Original Blues Brothers Band, Severn Records)
Singles and EP releases
- 1990 – Sweet Home Chicago / Soul Man (WEA)
- 1992 – Never Found a Girl / Red, White & Blues (WEA)
- 1993 – Australian Tour Sampler - April 1993 – EP (WEA)
Live recordings
- 1990 – The Blues Brothers Band Live in Montreux (WEA)
Unofficial releases
- 1987 – Otis, Onions & the Blues (featuring Booker T. & the MGs) (Green Hell Records)
- 1992 – Blues For You - Live In Montreux 1992
- 2004 – Jazz San Javier 2004
Additional contributions: Blues Brothers Horns
- 1995 – Jesse "Wild Bill" Austin: Baby's Back (Roesch Records) (featuring Lou Marini, Alan Rubin & Birch Johnson)
- 1997 – Eddie King: Another Cow's Dead (Roesch Records) (Lou Marini, Alan Rubin, Birch Johnson, Ronnie Cuber)
- 2000 – Matt "Guitar" Murphy: Lucky Charm (Roesch Records) (Lou Marini, Alan Rubin & Birch Johnson)
- 2014 – Johnny Winter: Step Back (Megaforce) (Lou Marini & Tom Malone)
Founding Members
The original ensemble consisted of:
- "Joliet" Jake E. Blues – lead singer
- Elwood J. Blues – harmonica, vocals
- Steve "The Colonel" Cropper – lead and rhythm guitar (formerly with Booker T & the M.G.'s)
- Matt "Guitar" Murphy – lead and rhythm guitar (Howlin' Wolf, among others)
- Donald "Duck" Dunn – bass guitar (ex-Booker T & the M.G.'s)
- Paul "The Shiv" Shaffer – keyboards, arrangement duties (Saturday Night Live Band; not featured in film)
- Murphy Dunne – keyboards and tambourine (appeared in film; toured summer 1980)
- Alan "Mr. Fabulous" Rubin – trumpet (Saturday Night Live Band)
- "Blue" Lou Marini – saxophone (Saturday Night Live Band)
- Tom "Triple Scale" Scott – saxophone (soundtrack contribution only)
- Tom "Bones" Malone – trombone, trumpet, saxophone (Saturday Night Live Band)
- Birch "Crimson Slide" Johnson – trombone (excluded from film)
- Willie "Too Big" Hall – drums and percussion (formerly Bar-Kays; appeared on screen)
- Steve "Getdwa" Jordan – drums and percussion (Saturday Night Live Band; studio albums only)
Additional Contributors
Other musicians who have been part of the lineup include:
- Jim Belushi ("Brother" Zee Blues) – vocals
- John Goodman ("Mighty Mack" McTeer) – vocals
- Buster Blues – harmonica and vocals (portrayed by J. Evan Bonifant in Blues Brothers 2000, harmonica performed by John Popper)
- Joe Morton (Cabel "Cab" Chamberlain) – vocals
- Cab Calloway – vocals (deceased 1994)
- Larry "T" Thurston – vocals
- Eddie "Knock on Wood" Floyd – vocals
- Sam "Soul Man" Moore – vocals
- Bobby "Sweet Soul" Harden – vocals
- Tommy "Pipes" McDonnell – harmonica and vocals
- Rob "The Honeydripper" Paparozzi – harmonica and vocals
- Leon Pendarvis ("The Lion") – piano, vocals, arranger
- David Spinozza ("Spin") – guitar
- Danny Gottlieb ("G-Force") – drums
- Jimmy Biggins ("Jimmy B") – saxophone
- Daniel Moorehead ("Dizzy") – saxophone
- Anthony Cloud ("Rusty") – clavinet, Wurlitzer, piano, organ
- Eric Udel ("The Red") – bass guitar
- John Tropea ("Smokin") – guitar
- Jimmy Hodge ("Mack") – guitar
- Lee Finkelstein ("Funky Time") – drums
- Steve Potts – drums
- Anton Fig – drums
- Larry Farrell ("Trombonius Maximus") – trombone
- Alto Reed – saxophone
- Steve Howard ("Catfish") – trumpet
- Jonny Rosch ("The Rock & Roll Doctor") – vocals and harmonica
- Francisco Simon – guitar
- Cale Hawkins – piano
See also
External links
- Official DVD website
- Dedicated Fan Page
- House of Blues Radio Hour (Presented by Dan Aykroyd)
- Audio Interview (MP3) featuring John Belushi biographer Tanner Colby and widow Judith Belushi Pisano on the public radio show The Sound of Young America, covering their book Belushi. Contains excerpts from Belushi’s performances on The National Lampoon Radio Hour.
- The Blues Brothers DVD release
| Year | Title | Peak US Chart Position | Label |
|---|
- Articles with short description
- The Blues Brothers
- Bands with fictional stage personas
- American rhythm and blues musical groups
- American blues rock musical groups
- American soul musical groups
- American musical duos
- American comedy musicians
- Fictional siblings
- Musical groups from Chicago
- Musical groups established in 1976
- Musical groups disbanded in 1982
- Musical groups reformed in 1988
- Atlantic Records artists
- Booker T. & the M.G.'s
- Dan Aykroyd
- Musical groups disestablished in 1982