Browsing: The Bluesmobile

In the early ‘20s a Vaudeville guitar player named George Beauchamp paid a visit to a stringed instrument shop. His complaint: no matter how loud he played, his guitar just couldn’t compete with the rest of the instruments in the orchestra.

So, the owner of that shop, John Dopyera, developed the idea of fitting a guitar body with aluminum cones. Discs of fine-spun aluminum that vibrate to amplify sound. Make the body out of metal, and you’ve got a National guitar.

Black Hat. Dark Sunglasses. Sound like a Blues Brother to you? It is. The original Blues Brother. Inspiration to Jake and Elwood. Master songwriter, electric guitar titan, best-selling bluesman…John Lee Hooker.

See what actor Chadwick Boseman had to say about playing the magnificent James Brown in “Get On Up”, out TODAY!

In the 1950’s, Big Bill Broonzy was one of the first Bluesmen to tour all over the U.S. and throughout Europe. He was a leading figure in what they called the Folk Revival.

CC Rider Venerates Jimmy Rogers, one of THE legendary Head Cutters, a “band” who’s other two members were Muddy Waters and Little Walter

This week features one of the most powerful, soulful guitarists in Chicago’s history: the late Luther Allison from way back in January, 1997, just seven months before his untimely death.

R.L. Burnside talks about getting the name “Reverend”, eating neck bones, and his musical family

Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown talks about his process, NOT being a bluesman, his best home cooking, and knowing he was going to be a musician before he even left the womb!

Every week, Elwood Blues digs deep down between the seats and pulls another interesting, exciting, revealing interview with another blues personality from the archives.