Jim Belushi Reveals Watching His Brother John Become a ‘Blues Brother’
Jim Belushi shared a touching memory from his early Hollywood years, recalling a moment when his late brother, John Belushi, transformed into one of comedy’s most iconic characters. John rose to fame as part of the original “Saturday Night Live” cast in 1975 and, together with Dan Aykroyd, created The Blues Brothers. The act evolved from a comedy sketch into a celebrated blues and soul band.
The duo made their first appearance as musical guests on “SNL” in April 1978 and soon began performing live, opening for Steve Martin during his Universal Amphitheater shows in Los Angeles later that year.
“I’ll tell you what I loved: I loved going to the Universal Amphitheater when they came to LA and they opened for Steve Martin. And John was so, so magnificent. I loved that moment, to see my brother just hit the top of his chart.”
Jim, now 71, shared the memory during the premiere of his new film “Song Sung Blue” at AFI Fest in Hollywood. Sadly, John Belushi passed away on March 5, 1982, from a suspected drug overdose. After his brother’s death, Jim eventually stepped into the role of Zee Blues at the encouragement of Aykroyd.
Author’s Summary
A heartfelt recollection of Jim Belushi watching his brother John reach peak fame as a Blues Brother before his untimely passing.