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Jim Belushi Keeps The Blues Brothers' Musical Legacy Alive with Dan Aykroyd
1 Nov
Summary
- Jim Belushi fondly remembers watching his late brother John Belushi perform with The Blues Brothers
- Jim has continued the musical group with Dan Aykroyd for over 25 years since John's passing
- Jim stars in the new film "Song Sung Blue" about struggling musicians
In November 2025, actor and comedian Jim Belushi, 71, is reflecting on the early days of his and his late brother John Belushi's showbiz careers. Jim fondly remembers watching John, an original cast member of Saturday Night Live, perform with Dan Aykroyd as The Blues Brothers in the late 1970s.
The duo made their debut as a musical guest on SNL in 1978 and later opened for Steve Martin at the Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles that same year. Jim says he loved seeing his brother "hit the top of his chart" during those magical shows. The Blues Brothers went on to release a double-platinum album and star in the hit 1980 film of the same name.
Tragically, John Belushi passed away in 1982 at the age of 33 from a drug overdose. However, his musical legacy has lived on, as Jim has continued performing as Zee Blues alongside Aykroyd for the past 25 years. "We just did [a show] last week in Leesburg, Virginia," Jim reveals, crediting Aykroyd for the idea to keep the group going.
In his latest project, Jim stars in the biographical drama "Song Sung Blue," which tells the real-life story of struggling musicians who formed a Neil Diamond tribute band. Jim says he was drawn to the film because of his connection with the director, Craig Brewer, who has "the soul of a musician."
