Bigger Than Life: Chicago Blues Great Otis Rush

     Jimi Hendrix, Muddy Waters, BB King, Albert King, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Buddy Guy, Bonnie Raitt, John Lee Hooker, Carlos Santana and Stevie Ray Vaughan all at one time or another have stated how much they profoundly respect and admire Otis Rush.  When Muddy Waters says his music is “deep”, you can count on that. Singer/guitarist Otis Rush is truly the rarest of the rare when it comes to being a master of the blues. His depth, passion, mastery and sheer genius is unsurpassed.

     Otis practices his calling with true humility, no gimmicks,  stage theatrics, or guile. Like all great artists he plumbs the deepest parts of humanity for inspiration. While the soft spoken southpaw may not be a household name to many, any blues fan knows no one has done it any better than Otis. His immense talent is matched only by his sweetness, and Otis telling me he liked my playing still means the world to me. 

     When I think of any musical decision that I regret, what immediately comes to mind is passing on a tour of Japan with Otis. I’ll never forget how he refused my fee because it “wasn’t enough” and proceeded to offer a few thousand dollars more for me and the band.  This was unheard of in an era where musicians would have to fight or prepare to fight in order to get paid, and I witnessed occassional gunplay in those days. (“The Blues Brothers” movie is more true to life than you might think).   I had been playing with Etta James for a couple of years by that time, and after I agreed to the Japan date, a last minute gig with Etta forced me to cancel.  Remembering that decision is painful to this day.  Still , I was blessed to record with  Otis on Tops, a 1985 live recording from the San Francisco Blues Festival. 

      I really cannot overstate his influence. Jeff Beck was dumbfounded when he heard Otis Rush for the first time. Eric Clapton has covered Double Trouble (namesake of Stevie Ray Vaughan’s band) and emulated Rush’s guitar on “All Your Love”(I Miss Lovin’) on his classic recording as a member of John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers. Hearing Otis’ vocal nuances for the first time brings to mind just how much he has influenced Clapton. Jimmy Page lifted Otis’ “I Can’t Quit You Baby” almost verbatim on the the first Led Zeppelin album. Jazz great Pat Metheny told me Otis  inspired him to “play for yourself”.

    True to his craft, Otis never played politics. His lack of interest in schmoozing, or rock stars sitting in with him, or doing duets with big names would have frustrated any manager. This didn’t mean he wouldn’t have the “creme de la creme” in marquee names and musical icons at his disposal. When I backed Otis in San Francisco, Carlos Santana (a huge fan) came by and asked to sit in while we were playing. I passed Carlos my guitar. The audience went nuts, but Otis wasn’t thrilled and he beckoned for me to get back up and take my guitar back from Carlos. Another time at the now defunct Lone Star in NYC, Aykroyd and Belushi sauntered up to the bandstand. Otis walked off. Several of Otis’ contemporaries are the opposite in that regard. Otis’ pal and fellow Chicago blues great Buddy Guy has always encouraged rock stars to play with him. (Welcoming these opportunities is perhaps the reason Buddy is better known.)

     Otis suffered a stroke in 2004 and has toured on a limited basis since then, as a singer. He is up for a Grammy  nomination for Best Traditional Blues this year for a recording entitled “Live and From San Francisco” which was recorded a few years prior to his stroke. I am proud and humbled to have made a cameo on it but regardless of that, I hope he wins. He deserves it and has given the world the very best of what this country has to offer. I love you Otis, and I always will.

Respectfully dedicated to Masaki Rush, Otis’ loving wife, companion and the other half of a great team.