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Otis Rush

 


Blues musician Otis Rush Jr was born in Philadelphia, Mississippi, on April 29, 1935. He was a left handed player whose style greatly influenced guitarists including Michael Bloomfield, Peter Green and Eric Clapton. He worked on a family farm during his childhood. He taught himself how to play guitar when he was eight, and also sang in church choirs. Rush moved to Chicago in 1949, was inspired by Muddy Waters and began playing in blues clubs on the South and West Side of the city. “I can’t quit you baby” was his debut single for Cobra records, with whom he recorded from 1958 to 1960; when Cobra went bust he moved to the Chess label. In April 2018, the Jazz Foundation of America honoured him with a lifetime achievement award.

Otis Rush died from complications after a stroke in Chicago, USA on September 29, 2018.

Image:  Jack Vartoogian/Getty Images

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