Jake and Elwood: The Blues Brothers
You know them as Joliet Jake and Elwood Blues, the brothers who are paroled from an Illinois State Prison and embark on a “mission from God” to keep tax officials from foreclosing on the Catholic orphanage where they were raised. Along the way, they rub elbows with some of the great blues musicians of the day.
But before that 1980 film, Jake and Elwood — played by John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd — were cast members on “Saturday Night Live.” They first performed their blues act on Jan. 17, 1976: a half-century ago Saturday.
Their First Appearance, Wearing ... Bee Costumes?
Comedian Dan Aykroyd introduced his performing colleague, John Belushi, to the blues. Aykroyd could play the harmonica. Belushi had always wanted to sing in a rock band.
They were both hired as cast members on NBC’s new late-night live sketch comedy series, “Saturday Night Live.” One of the running gags featured in the first season of the show were skits in which actors, for no particular reason, wore bee costumes.
Jan. 17, 1976: Singing “I’m a King Bee” with the entire SNL house band dressed as bees.
These two threads merged on the 10th episode of the show when Belushi and Aykroyd performed Slim Harpo’s 1957 song “I’m a King Bee” wearing bee costumes. Both wore shades while Aykroyd also wore a dark hat. They were billed as “Howard Shore and His All-Bee Band” — Shore being the show’s musical director.
Aykroyd remained in the shadows as Belushi sang lead and finished the song with a series of comically failed somersaults, cartwheels and flips.
April 22, 1978: Wearing suits, hats and Ray-Bans and singing “Hey Bar-tender.”
The audience loved it. But the number was a one-off piece, and Belushi and Aykroyd both knew it. It wasn’t until the hiatus between SNL seasons 2 and 3, when Belushi spent the summer in Eugene, Oregon, filming “Animal House,” that his itch to perform resurfaced. He began frequenting performances by “Roomful of Blues” and admired their dark suits, ties and Ray Ban glasses.
September 1978: Opening for Steve Martin at the Universal Ampi-theater.
Upon his return to New York, Belushi and Aykroyd began performing a blues act at the Holland Tunnel Blues Bar, a private club Aykroyd had bought. They asked the new SNL musical director, Paul Shaffer, to help them recruit a band. SNL producer Lorne Michaels allowed the team to perform as a warm-up act for live broadcasts.
On April 22, 1978, Michaels had the Blues Brothers perform as the show’s musical guest. They sang “Hey Bartender” and “I Don’t Know.” Impressed, Steve Martin asked the band to open for him at a series of LA-area shows.
It was during those shows the Blues Brothers’ debut album, “Briefcase Full of Blues,” including a top-20 single, was recorded. A movie deal followed not long after.
June 20, 1980: “The Blues Brothers” movie opens nationwide.
Blue Brothers Albums ...
The Blues Brothers released only four albums before the death of John Belushi in March 1982.
