The Blues Brothers: A Music Article

The Blues Brothers are an American musical comedy duo who appeared on Saturday Night Live in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The characters were created by Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi.

The Beginnings

Though it is impossible to know exactly where the blues began, most scholars agree that the Mississippi Delta is the likely birthplace of the blues. The first recordings of the blues were made in the 1920s by artists such as W.C. Handy, but it was not until the 1940s that the blues began to gain mainstream popularity.

The formation of the band

The Blues Brothers first appeared on Saturday Night Live on January 17, 1976, in a sketch proposed by John Belushi. They were introduced as “the good-looking little brothers everyone wants to have around”[1] and later performed their first musical number, “I Don’t Know”, with backing from SNL’s house band, Howard Shore and his All-Star pit orchestra.

The sketch was popular enough that it led to the release of an album, Briefcase Full of Blues, in 1978. The band became one of the most popular live acts of the late 1970s and early 1980s. Over the course of the 1980s their popularity waned somewhat, but they maintained a fairly large cult following and would continue to tour periodically throughout the decade (often without Belushi, who had died in 1982).

In 1998, they reformed with new members including Jimmy Fallon and made a cameo appearance in The Blues Brothers 2000. The film featured cameos from many famous musicians, including Steve Winwood, B.B. King, Eric Clapton, Aretha Franklin, Sting, Dexys Midnight Runners frontman Kevin Rowland (as the Superintendent), Wilson Pickett (in his final film role), Angus Young of AC/DC, Paul Shaffer (in his film debut), John Lee Hooker (in his final film role) and Junior Wells (in his final film role).

The first gig

The band’s first gig was at the Palmer House in Chicago on January 16, 1976. The set was mostly blues standards, including “Killing Floor” and “Don’t Start Me Talkin'”. The band was not well received and was booed off the stage. Dan Aykroyd recalls that the band knew they were doomed when “the very first note we played was greeted by a hail of beer cups, half-eaten sandwiches, and catcalls”.[11]

After the disastrous debut, the band worked on their stage act and tried to improve their sound. They also began to book gigs further away from Chicago. In March 1976, they made their first trip outside Illinois, playing in Milwaukee and Madison, Wisconsin. The following month they hired Steve Cropper as their lead guitarist. Cropper had been a member of Booker T. & the M.G.’s and had also played with Otis Redding; he brought a more authentic Memphis soul sound to the band.[12] With Cropper in the lineup, the group began to develop a following in New York City.[11]

The Music

The Blues Brothers are an American musical and comedy duo who created their own brand of blues music. They have been credited with reviving the genre and bringing it to a whole new audience. The Blues Brothers have released several albums and have toured all over the world.

The sound of the band

The sound of the band was a mixture of genres including blues, R&B, soul, and rock and roll. The band would often improvise their setlists and change the order of songs to keep things interesting. They were known for their energetic live performances and would often play for hours at a time.

The band’s sound was a major influence on later musicians, including the likes of Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, Jimmy Page, and John Bonham.

The influences on the band

The Blues Brothers started as a comedy act, but they quickly became a legitimate band with a loyal following. They released several albums and toured extensively, opening for big-name acts like Steve Martin and making appearances on Saturday Night Live. The band was inspired by Chicago blues artists like Muddy Waters and Junior Wells, as well as soul singers like Sam & Dave and Otis Redding. They also took inspiration from classic rock bands like the Rolling Stones and Creedence Clearwater Revival. The Blues Brothers were able to fuse all of these influences together to create their own unique sound.

The band’s impact on music

The Blues Brothers was a musical comedy act turned movie that became an instant classic. The band, fronted by John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd, featured some of the best blues and R&B musicians of the time. The movie itself is a hilarious romp, but the music is what really makes it special.

The band’s impact on music can’t be overstated. They helped to revive interest in blues and R&B music at a time when it was starting to lose its popularity. They also popularized a new style of blues-infused rock ‘n’ roll that would go on to be influential for decades.

Whether you love or hate the movie, there’s no denying that The Blues Brothers left a lasting mark on music history.

The Movies

The Blues Brothers is a 1980 American musical comedy film directed by John Landis. The film stars John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd as “Joliet” Jake and Elwood Blues, characters they originated on Saturday Night Live. The film’s screenplay was written by Aykroyd and landis. It features musical numbers by rhythm and blues (R&B), soul, and blues singers James Brown, Ray Charles, Cab Calloway, and Aretha Franklin. The film is set in and around Chicago, Illinois, on a Saturday in May.

The first movie

The first movie, The Blues Brothers, was released in 1980. It starred John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd as “Joliet” Jake and Elwood Blues, two musicians who embark on a “mission from God” to save the Catholic orphanage where they were raised. The movie was directed by John Landis and also featured cameo appearances by Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Cab Calloway, and James Brown. The film’s soundtrack featured blues and soul performers such as Isaac Hayes, James Cotton, Junior Wells, and Otis Redding.

The second movie

The second movie in the trilogy was The Blues Brothers: A Music Article. This movie was released in 1998, and it featured the same characters as the first movie. However, this time the plot revolved around a music festival that the brothers were recruited to play. The movie was well received by critics, and it grossed over $100 million at the box office.

The Legacy

It was June 20th, 1980, the day after the Blues Brothers movie was released in theaters. John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd, the stars of the film, were both dead. Belushi from a drug overdose and Aykroyd from a heart attack. The movie, based on a sketch the two had done on Saturday Night Live, had been a box office success, but more than that, it had given the world something it didn’t know it needed: a blues revival.

The band’s influence on popular culture

The Blues Brothers is a 1980 American musical comedy film directed by John Landis. It features Jake Blues (John Belushi), who, just out of jail, puts his old band back together to try and raise money for the orphanage where he and his brother Elwood (Dan Aykroyd) were raised.

While the movie was not a huge box office success upon its release, it has since become a cult classic, thanks in part to its iconic status as one of the few films that features an all-black cast. The movie’s soundtrack was also a huge hit, reaching #3 on the Billboard 200 and going platinum.

The movie’s Influence on popular culture can be seen in its portrayal of racial stereotypes, its use of blues and R&B music, and its comedic approach to serious topics like racism and poverty. The film has been cited as an inspiration by many musicians, filmmakers, and comedians

The band’s influence on music

The Blues Brothers was an American blues band founded in 1978 by comedians Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi as part of a musical sketch on Saturday Night Live. Belushi and Aykroyd, respectively in character as lead vocalist “Joliet” Jake Blues and harmonica player/vocalist Elwood Blues, fronted the band which was composed of well-known and respected musicians. The band made several recordings, including three critically acclaimed albums, and its touring performances received positive notices. The Blues Brothers first appeared on Saturday Night Live on February 20, 1976, where they performed “Soul Man” and “I Don’t Want You Back”.

Despite their success on SNL and in concert, The Blues Brothers never released a studio album while Belushi was alive. Following Belushi’s death in 1982, the band released one album, Made in America, before disbanding for good in 1988.

The Blues Brothers have been credited with helping to revive interest in blues music during the 1980s. They are also credited with popularizing soul music and rhythm and blues among white audiences. Additionally, the band’s rendition of “Rawhide” is considered to be one of the most memorable uses of music in a film.