Personalities | The Blues Brothers | Eighties | Rock

(Vocal/instrumental group, 1978–present)

Jake and Elwood Blues began life in a 1976 Saturday Night Live sketch featuring John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd singing ‘I’m A King Bee’ dressed as giant bees. The show’s musical director, Paul Shaffer helped assemble a band to support comedian Steve Martin in 1978. They recruited legendary Booker T. And The M.G.s guitarist Steve Cropper, his bassist bandmate Donald ‘Duck’ Dunn, alongside Chicago blues sideman extraordinaire, Matt ‘Guitar’ Murphy, and a wealth of session talent. The show was released as Briefcase Full Of Blues and became a huge hit. The film directed by John Landis followed in 1980, featuring cameo appearances from James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Cab Calloway and Ray Charles. Best Of The Blues Brothers was released in 1981. Belushi died in 1982. Steve Cropper recorded a follow-up album in 1988, Red White And Blues. Blues Brothers 2000 furthered the film franchise, again helping reintroduce America to its black musical heritage.

Styles & Forms | Eighties | Rock
Personalities | Michael Bolton | Eighties | Rock

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley

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