Bobby Rush
10x10in
2024
Bobby Rush, born Emmett Ellis Jr. on November 10, 1933, in Homer, Louisiana, is a Grammy Award-winning blues musician deeply rooted in Mississippi's rich musical heritage. Though raised partly in Arkansas, Rush has long called Mississippi home where he continues to live and work.
Often referred to as the "King of the Chitlin' Circuit," Rush is known for his energetic performances and genre-blending style he calls “folk funk,” mixing blues, soul, funk, and rap. His 1971 breakout hit, Chicken Heads, became a staple in Southern blues culture.
Rush’s contributions have earned him three Grammy Awards for Best Traditional Blues Album (Porcupine Meat in 2017, Rawer than Raw in 2021, and All My Love for You in 2024) and over a dozen Blues Music Awards. A proud ambassador for Mississippi blues, he often credits the state’s deep musical legacy for inspiring his sound.
Beyond the stage, he made history as the first blues artist to perform in China and authored the memoir I Ain’t Studdin’ Ya: My American Blues Story. Bobby Rush remains a living legend—one of the last original links to the golden era of blues and a torchbearer for Mississippi’s enduring influence on American music.