The Blues Brothers

By: Joe Farmer Follow

Released in the United States 40 years ago on June 20, 1980, the film The Blues Brothers has remained in our collective memory as one of the most exciting musicals in cinematic history. In addition to the play of actors hopping by Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi, the casting was a big surprise for the spectators of the time since it brought together the greatest figures of "The epic of Black Music": Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Cab Calloway, John Lee Hooker, James Brown, etc.

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The story of the Blues Brothers does not start on cinema screens, however ... It was on the set of "Saturday Night Live", the flagship program of the American channel NBC, that the idea of ​​forming an orchestra largely inspired was born. by the African American repertoire. Thus, at the end of the 70s, the Blues Brothers punctuated the evenings of American viewers with musical appearances, full of humor and energy, assisted by some renowned musicians including the famous guitarist Steve Cropper, author of several great classics composed for the Stax Records label in Memphis. The intention to prolong the television adventure of the Blues Brothers on stage quickly becomes obvious. The happy troop then decides to give concerts across the United States and the public immediately responds.

The Blues Brothers therefore crisscross the big American cities supported by seasoned instrumentalists, bassist Donald "Duck" Dunn, guitarist Matt "Guitar" Murphy, saxophonist Lou Marini, trumpet player Alan Rubin, and the musical director of the orchestra, Steve Cropper, among others ... It is a formation composed of white and black musicians who accompanies the Blues Brothers in its path to glory. Director John Landis will not be indifferent to this choice of calling on real virtuosos whatever the color of their skin. When he tackles the script of the film "The Blues Brothers", he will take care to keep the members of the original group by adding his personal touch.

If the Blues Brothers repertoire punctuates this hectic film, John Landis will increase the cast of key figures from the black heritage. It is the godfather of Soul who will have the honor of opening the ball in a sermon that only James Brown could deliver. Other moments of anthology will follow such as the appearance of John Lee Hooker or that, epic, of Aretha Franklin who advises her husband, interpreted by guitarist Matt "Guitar" Murphy, to think carefully before joining the Blues Brothers, during a scene that has become cult.

The film "The Blues Brothers" brings together icons of popular African-American music in 1980 who will capitalize on the success of this feature film to bounce back to an era when disco is on the radio and rap is starting to shake society. across the Atlantic. By appearing on the screen in a very well put together musical comedy, the stars of the 60s then update their image and address a new generation in a playful and terribly effective way. Certainly, the story told to us in this film is a bit preposterous since it is an insane journey of two sympathetic thugs, on a mission for the Lord, in order to raise funds for a Catholic orphanage where they been brought up, even if it means defying the law and drawing the wrath of the authorities, their creditors, and some supremacists after them, but, let's face it, see Ray Charles, owner of a musical instrument store, to deliver such a service, gives even more relief to this dingo scenario.

The success of the film in theaters will awaken the musicians' desire to go back on stage and record discs. Steve Cropper, one of the pillars of the orchestra, will ensure the perpetuation of this unique adventure and, after the untimely death of John Belushi in 1982 at only 33 years old, will have the fierce desire to perpetuate the Blues Brothers with the original musicians . Several albums were recorded in which Dan Aykroyd alias Elwood Blues, the former friend of John Belushi, sometimes participated.

20 years after the first film, John Landis imagined a sequel to this cinematic epic. He therefore invited the group, still active, to return to the studios to invent the script for "Blues Brothers 2000" and concoct the soundtrack for this new episode. Once again, a host of African-American luminaries will flock to participate in this second chapter: Bo Diddley, Isaac Hayes, BB King, Koko Taylor, Grover Washington Jr, Erykah Badu, Wilson Pickett, Sam Moore, Junior Wells, Eddie Floyd, and the return of Aretha Franklin and James Brown…

Almost 80 years old, Steve Cropper, the linchpin of the Blues Brothers repertoire, tends, like all the film's spectators and admirers of the group, to nostalgia. He knows that the page is turned and can only express wishes: " What would be my greatest wish? It would be to see John Belushi and all the musicians with whom I have had the privilege of working over the years, Otis Redding, Al Jackson, Donald "Duck" Dunn, Matt "Guitar" Murphy, Alan "Mister Fabulous" Rubin, etc. If up there, there is a little place for me, I would be happy to find my old comrades ".

Steve Cropper's site

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