His distinctive guitar style featured a slow-burning sound and long bent notes. With qualities similar to the styles of Magic Sam and Buddy Guy, his sound became known as West Side Chicago blues and was an influence on many musicians, including
Michael Bloomfield, Peter Green and Eric Clapton.
Otis Rush, the son of Julia Campbell Boyd and O. C. Rush, was born near Philadelphia, Mississippi, in 1934. (or 1935?).
Rush moved to Chicago, Illinois, in 1948, and made a name for himself playing in blues clubs on the South Side and the West Side of the city.
From 1956 to 1958, he recorded for Cobra Records and released eight singles, some featuring Ike Turner or Jody Williams on guitar. His first single, "I Can't Quit You Baby", in 1956 reached number 6 on the Billboard R&B chart. During his tenure with Cobra, he recorded some of his best-known songs, such as "Double Trouble" and "All Your Love (I Miss Loving)."
Cobra Records went bankrupt in 1959, and Rush signed a recording contract with Chess Records in 1960. He recorded eight tracks for the label, four of which were released on two singles that year. Six tracks, including the two singles, were later included on the album Door to Door in 1969, a compilation also featuring Chess recordings by Albert King. Rush went into the studio for Duke Records in 1962, but only one single, "Homework" backed with "I Have to Laugh", was issued by the label. It was also released in Great Britain as Vocalion VP9260 in 1963. In 1965, he recorded for Vanguard; these recordings are included on the label's compilation album Chicago/The Blues/Today! Vol. 2. Rush began playing in other cities in the United States and in Europe during the 1960s, notably with the American Folk Blues Festival. In 1969, his album Mourning in the Morning was released by Cotillion Records. Recorded at the FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, the album was produced by Michael Bloomfield and Nick Gravenites (then of the band Electric Flag). The sound incorporated soul music and rock, a new direction for Rush.
In 1971, Rush recorded the album Right Place, Wrong Time in San Francisco for Capitol Records, but Capitol did not release it. The album was finally issued in 1976, when Rush purchased the master from Capitol and had it released by P-Vine Records in Japan. Bullfrog Records released it in the United States soon after. The album has since gained a reputation as one of his best works . He also released some albums for Delmark Records and for Sonet Records in Europe during the 1970s, but by the end of the decade he had stopped performing and recording.
Rush made a comeback in 1985 with a U.S. tour and the release of a live album, Tops, recorded at the San Francisco Blues Festival.
He released Ain't Enough Comin' In in 1994, his first studio album in 16 years. Any Place I'm Goin' followed in 1998, and he earned his first Grammy Award for Best Traditional Blues Album in 1999. Rush did not record a new studio album after 1998 but he continued to tour and perform until 2003, when he suffered a stroke. In 2002, he was featured on the Bo Diddley tribute album Hey Bo Diddley β A Tribute!, performing the song "I'm a Man", produced by Carla Olson. Rush's 2006 album Live...and in Concert from San Francisco, a live recording from 1999, was released by Blues Express Records. Video footage of the same show was released on the DVD Live Part 1 in 2003.
In June 2016, Rush made a rare appearance at the Chicago Blues Festival in Grant Park. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emmanuel honored Rush's appearance by declaring June 12 to be Otis Rush Day in Chicago. Due to his ongoing health problems Rush was unable to play, but celebrated on the sidelines with his family who stood around him.
Awards
Rush was elected to the Blues Hall of Fame in 1984.
In 2015, Rolling Stone ranked Rush number 53 on its 100 Greatest Guitarists list.
The Jazz Foundation of America honored Rush with a Lifetime Achievement Award on April 20, 2018 "for a lifetime of genius and leaving an indelible mark in the world of blues and the universal language of music."
His death on September 29, 2018, from complications arising from his stroke in 2003, was announced on his website by his wife Masaki.
Selected discography
Singles
1956 "I Can't Quit You Baby" / "Sit Down Baby" (Cobra 5000)
1956 "My Love Will Never Die" / "Violent Love" (Cobra 5005)
1957 "Groaning the Blues" / "If You Were Mine" (Cobra 5010)
1957 "Jump Sister Bessie" / "Love That Woman" (Cobra 5015)
1957 "She's a Good 'Un" / "Three Times a Fool" (Cobra 5023)
1958 "Checking on My Baby" / "It Takes Time" (Cobra 5027)
1958 "Double Trouble" / "Keep On Loving Me Baby" (Cobra 5030)
1958 "All Your Love (I Miss Loving)" / "My Baby's a Good 'Un" (Cobra 5032)
1960 "So Many Roads So Many Trains" / "I'm Satisfied" (Chess 1751)
1960 "You Know My Love" / "I Can't Stop Baby" (Chess 1775)
1962 "Homework" / "I Have to Laugh" (Duke 356)
1969 "Gambler's Blues" / "You're Killing My Love" (Cotillion 44032)
Original albums
1968 This One's a Good One (Blue Horizon)
1969 Mourning in the Morning (Cotillion)
1972 Blues Masters, Vol. 2
1974 Screamin' and Cryin' (Black & Blue)
1975 Cold Day in Hell (Delmark)
1976 So Many Roads (Delmark)
1976 Right Place, Wrong Time (Bullfrog)
1978 Troubles Troubles (Sonet)
1988 Tops (Blind Pig)
1989 Blues Interaction β Live in Japan 1986 (P-Vine)
1991 Lost in the Blues (Alligator ALCD4797)
1993 Live in Europe (Evidence Music ECD)
1994 Ain't Enough Comin' In (This Way Up/Mercury)
1998 Any Place I'm Going (House of Blues)
2006 Live...and in Concert from San Francisco (Blues Express)
2009 Chicago Blues Festival 2001 (P-Vine)
2015 Double Trouble LIVE Cambridge 1973 (RockBeat Records)
Compilation albums
1969 Door to Door, with Albert King (Chess)
1989 I Can't Quit You Baby: The Cobra Sessions 1956β1958 (P-Vine)
2000 Good 'Uns: The Classic Cobra Recordings 1956β1958 (Westside)
2000 The Essential Otis Rush: The Classic Cobra Recordings 1956β1958 (Fuel 2000)
2002 Blue on Blues: Buddy Guy & Otis Rush (Fuel 2000)
2005 All Your Love I Miss Loving: Live at the Wise Fools Pub, Chicago (Delmark)
2006 Live at Montreux 1986 (Eagle Rock Entertainment) (joint performance with Eric Clapton and Luther Allison)
2015 Double Trouble: Live Cambridge 1973 (Rockbeat Records ROCCD 3220)
DVDs
2003 Live Part One (Blues Express)
2006 Live at Montreux 1986 (Eagle Rock Entertainment)[
Gambler's Blues
Otis Rush Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yes, I once was a gambler, boy, but I lost my money soon
Yes, I lost all of my money some other, some other gambler can have my room
You know I lost all my money, in a no good gambling game
Yes, I lost all my money, boys, in a no good gambling game
I was on my bad luck, kept gambling just the same
When you lose that old no good money, you sit around with your head hung down
Yeah, wake up next morning happy, I'm the best gambler in this town
The lyrics of Otis Rush's Gambler's Blues speak about a man who was once a gambler, but eventually lost all his money in a no good gambling game. He laments the loss of his wealth and warns others against the dangers of gambling. The lyrics are reflective of the struggles of a gambler who is compelled to try his luck over and over again despite his losses, only to end up in misery.
The singer speaks of his personal experience with gambling as a lesson to other gamblers. He acknowledges that he was once like them - hopeful and persistent - but ultimately lost everything he had. The phrase "some other gambler can have my room" conveys the singer's sense of hopelessness, as he's lost so much that he can't even afford to stay in the same place any longer.
The lyrics also touch upon the feelings of shame that accompany the loss of a person's livelihood, as evidenced by its mention of how one sits around with their head hung down. However, the lyrics end on a slightly hopeful note, with the singer declaring that the next day he wakes up feeling happy again and even declares himself to be the "best gambler in this town". This suggests that despite his losses, he's still unable to shake off his addiction to the thrill of gambling.
Line by Line Meaning
You know I once was a gambler, boy, but I lost my money soon
I used to gamble, but I lost my money quickly.
Yes, I once was a gambler, boy, but I lost my money soon
I am acknowledging that I used to gamble and lost my money quickly.
Yes, I lost all of my money some other, some other gambler can have my room
I lost all my money, so now I'm leaving and someone else can have my place.
You know I lost all my money, in a no good gambling game
I lost all my money in a bad game of gambling.
Yes, I lost all my money, boys, in a no good gambling game
I am emphasizing that I lost all my money in a bad game of gambling.
I was on my bad luck, kept gambling just the same
I was experiencing bad luck, but I continued to gamble regardless.
When you lose that old no good money, you sit around with your head hung down
When you lose your money in a bad game of gambling, you feel sad and defeated.
Yeah, wake up next morning happy, I'm the best gambler in this town
Despite losing all my money, I wake up feeling happy and still believe I am the best gambler in town.
Lyrics Β© BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOHNNIE PATE, B.B. KING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Astrid 453
This is how it's done! Just magical. Slow burning blues! Just brilliant! RIP, Otis. U r the best, u r a legend. Thank u for all yr amazing contributions! U r an absolute Star! We miss u!!! Why did u leave us?
Zo Zepp
You clearly understand the blues my friend good to know you're out there
TEXASFENDERBENDER
Otis's voice is just the Seventh String on that 335: Incredible.
John hawkins
Tell us how you really feel boy.
Santiago
I feel so blessed I got to see Mr Otis Rush back in the day at Chicago Blues in NYC. β₯οΈβ₯οΈβ₯οΈ
Barbara Butler
Same!!!!πππππ
Barbara Butler
Santiago... Same πππππ
Santiago
@Barbara Butler Yeah? You got to see Otis at Chicago Blues too. I remember that night because there was another man at the other end of the bar who kind of looked like Otis and was wearing the same hat. I asked the bartender to buy him a drink the bartender and him must have found that amusing. the guy waited till he was halfway through his drink to come up and thank me at which point I realized I just bought a stranger a drink. I admit I was a little peeved and it must have shown on my face cause that man bought me the next round. LMAO π€£ but looking back those were good times. I'm 60 now and I remember thinking I was starting to get old at 40. I would give anything to be 40 again !! LOL. β₯οΈ
Barbara Butler
@Santiago Thatβs a great story!! Those were definitely the good old days!! I regret some of the shows I missed @ Chicago B.L.U.E.S. but I will forever be grateful for the ones I did see! I saw Otis Rush two nights in a row there (circa 1994-1995). Incredible... as you know!! I even went back (by myself, and I was the only female) to wait with all the guys, to talk to him after the last show. I told him I had read that Jimi Hendrix had really wanted to meet him... and did that ever happen? He said, βno, but I wish I would have gotten to meet himβ. I was beside myself!! I couldnβt believe I had actually spoken to The Great Otis Rush!!!π₯° ππ₯° Did you ever get a chance to catch any Johnny Copeland shows there? My late and great boyfriend, Floyd Phillips, played keyboards for Johnny.ππΌπ
soerenguitarlessons
What an incredible voice!