Bobby Rush

The creator of a singular sound that he dubbed "folk-funk," vocalist, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Bobby Rush is among the most colorful and enduring characters on the contemporary chitlin circuit, honing a unique style that brings together a cracked lyrical bent with elements of blues, soul, and funk. Born Emmit Ellis, Jr. in Homer, Louisiana, on November 10, 1933, Rush and his family relocated to Chicago in 1953, where he emerged on the West Side blues circuit of the 1960s, fronting bands that included such notable alumni as Luther Allison and Freddie King. Rush ma...