Born on April 29, 1934, Otis Rush was one of the most important blues guitar players of the 1950s and was a foundational influence on rock guitar players of the 1960s and 1970s. The self-taught Rush developed his own guitar style. Much like his West Side Chicago blues contemporaries Magic Sam and Buddy Guy, Rush’s style was somewhat more aggressive than those of blues players who preceded him. Notably left-handed, Rush played with his little finger curled beneath his E-string.

Rush’s recorded output – album for album – is often considered lesser than those of his contemporaries, largely on the back of spotty production and a dearth of original material. His style and songs, however, especially “I Can’t Quit You Baby,” remain high watermarks for the blues.

Top Song