the ORIGINAL BLUES BROTHERS BAND

Who does not know the Blues Brothers? Jake and Elwood getting on a mission from god to collect money to help “Cab” and “the Penguin” to raise money for the orphanage in Chicago ,Illinois (USA). The put the band back together and BANG they did it. This band is still playing.

The Original Blues Brothers Band was born out of a unique vision by Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi, who set out in the late 1970s to bring authentic American rhythm & blues back to a wider audience. For this project, they assembled an extraordinary band by combining two of the strongest musical worlds of that time: the legendary Memphis sound, represented by musicians from Booker T. & the M.G.’s and the Stax scene, and the powerhouse New York horn section from Saturday Night Live.

This exceptional line-up became the foundation of both the historic Saturday Night Live performances and the культ film The Blues Brothers (1980), followed by Blues Brothers 2000. The result was not just a band, but a musical institution—featuring world-class musicians who had already played with the greatest artists in soul, blues and R&B.

Today, The Original Blues Brothers Band continues this legacy on stages worldwide. The current touring format, presented in Europe in collaboration with High Grade Entertainment, is built around musicians directly connected to the original band and films. Core members such as “Blue” Lou Marini, Tom “Bones” Malone and Murphy Dunne still appear regularly, ensuring an authentic link to the original productions, with the band always featuring at least two original members on stage.

The line-up is completed by top-front musicians from the extended Blues Brothers family, including Rob Paparozzi (vocals & harmonica), Tommy “Pipes” McDonnell (vocals), and Leon Pendarvis, longtime SNL musical director, who now serves as the band’s musical director.

With a repertoire that includes classics like “Soul Man,” “Everybody Needs Somebody to Love,” and “Gimme Some Lovin’,” the band delivers a high-energy show rooted in the original sound, spirit and showmanship that Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi envisioned from the very beginning.

As Aykroyd himself stated, the band was built from “the most superb and superior talents in the music industry”—a legacy that continues today in one of the most authentic touring rhythm & blues productions in the world.

Go and get that vibe from the movie again.

For the brothers’ look, Belushi borrowed John Lee Hooker’s trademark Ray-Ban Wayfarer sunglasses and soul patch.

LINE UP ORIGINL BLUES BROTHERS BAND:

FROM THE MOVIE “THE BLUES BROTHERS” IN 1980:

“Blue” Lou Marini – Sax

Murphy “Magictones” Dunne – Keys and Vocals

Tom “Bones” Malone – Bari Sax and Trombone

FROM THE MOVIE “BLUES BROTHERS 2000”:

Tommy “Pipes” McDonnell – Vocals

Leon “The Lion” Pendarvis – B3

Birch “Crimson Slide” Johnson – Trombone

REST OF THE LINE UP:

“Smokin” John Tropea – Guitar – Paul Simon

Steve “Catfish” Howard – Trumpet – Paul McCartney and Wings

Rob “The Honey Dripper” Paparozzi – Vocals Blood Sweat and Tears

Lee “Funkytime” Finkelstein – Drums – Tower of Power

James “Hags” Haggerty – Bass- Josh Rouse, The Autumn Defense