Over the weekend, the legendary Chicago blues guitarist Otis Rush passed away at the age of 84. Rush pioneered West Side Chicago blues, with Rolling Stone ranking him number 53 on their countdown of 100 Greatest Guitarists. Known for his dramatic bent notes and patient builds, Rush came to prominence in the 1950s and 1960s alongside other greats like Magic Sam and Buddy Guy—in fact, Buddy Guy credits Rush with giving him his start. Otis Rush was one of the most influential guitarists in history, with artists like Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Peter Green, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Michael Bloomfield, and many others citing him as an inspiration.
Born in Mississippi in 1935, Otis Rush moved to Chicago at the tail end of the 1940s. Though he had played guitar from the age of eight, after seeing a Muddy Waters concert, Rush decided to pursue music full time, eventually releasing his debut single, the Willie Dixon-penned “I Can’t Quit You Baby”, on Cobra. The song became a hit and was later revived by Led Zeppelin, with the British rock act covering the tune on their 1969 debut album.
Otis Rush – “I Can’t Quit You Baby”
[Video: Eirek Sandnes]
Over the years, Otis Rush continued to build up his catalog, releasing a number of classic tunes such as “My Love Will Never Die”, “All Your Love (I Miss Loving)”, and “Double Trouble” (which Stevie Ray Vaughn used as inspiration for the name of his band). However, Rush was perpetually followed by label issues. His initial label, Cobra, went bankrupt, and Rush jumped around to different labels, releasing singles here and there. The guitarist didn’t release a full album until 1969, and other finished albums took years to be actually released.
Otis Rush w/ Eric Clapton – “Double Trouble”
[Video: montreuxlive]
Rush was a successful touring and recording artist throughout the ’60s and ’70s. In 1994, after not releasing an album in 16 years, Otis Rush released Ain’t Enough Comin’ In, effectively bringing him back into the national spotlight. As a follow-up, his final album, Any Place I’m Goin‘, won him a Grammy for Best Traditional Blues Album in 1996. Though Any Place I’m Goin’ is considered his last full album, in the decade since its release, Rush continued to serve as a highly sought-after collaborator and regular road dog. Otis Rush suffered a stroke in 2003, which forced him off the road for good until his death earlier this week.
Rest in power, Otis Rush. You will be missed and never forgotten.
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