Music: Blues Brothers tribute back in Birmingham for Christmas party

Dec 11 2009 by Tony Collins, Birmingham Mail

THE legendary Jake and Elwood are promising anything but a ‘blue’ Christmas in Birmingham.

The unforgettable music of the original 1980 Blues Brothers movie, which famously starred John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd, is proving as popular as ever.

It is that amazing feelgood factor which is returning to The NIA Academy in Birmingham on Sunday, December 20, when the Jake & Elwood Christmas Party comes to town.

The audience see the ‘real’ Joliet Jake Blues in action, after one of the performers officially changed his name by deed poll 20 years ago.

He said: “I started the show in 1988 after seeing the film and falling in love with the soul and blues music. I called myself Joliet Jake Blues, but in 1989 I had an attorney’s letter on the computer addressed ‘dear Bill’, because my name at the time was William.

“I thought, I don’t know anyone in Los Angeles and it was copied to Dan Aykroyd and Judy Belushi Pisano, who was John Belushi’s wife, saying if I didn’t stop using the name Joliet Jake Blues they were going to sue me.” His response was to contact a solicitor immediately and have his name legally changed.

The show also features Buzz d’Angelo as the ‘godfather of soul’, James Brown, who appeared for real in the Blues Brothers movie alongside fellow singing legends Ray Charles and Aretha Franklin.

Jake & Elwood’s Christmas Party will include the 10-piece Black Rhino Band plus singers The Charvelles. But, more importantly, it boasts the great music of the original film, such as Everybody and Gimme Some Lovin’.