Bobby Rush

Bobby Rush (born Emmett Ellis Jr.) has captivated audiences around the world with his self-defined “folk-funk,” seamlessly blending the blues with soul-funk grooves. The recipient of three Grammy Awards and 12 Blues Music Awards, Rush is also a member of the Blues Hall of Fame, the Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame, and the Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame. With a legacy spanning more than 400 recordings, he continues to maintain a relentless touring schedule of more than 200 performances each year. Now in his eighth decade as a performer, Bobby Rush has become an elder statesman and ambassador for the blues in all its forms. With the release of Mississippi Public Broadcasting’s documentary King of the Chitlin’ Circuit: Bobby Rush and the biographical play Slippin’ Through the Cracks: The Bobby Rush Musical—both in 2026—the living legend continues to expand his audience and influence, proving he is not done yet.