- published: 08 Jul 2016
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Otis Rush (born April 29, 1935) is a blues musician, singer and guitarist. His distinctive guitar style features a slow-burning sound and long bent notes. With similar qualities to 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.
Rush is left-handed and, unlike many other left-handed guitarists, plays a left-handed instrument strung upside-down with the low E string at the bottom. He has played often with the little finger of his pick hand curled under the low E for positioning. It is widely believed that this contributes to his distinctive sound. He has a wide-ranging, powerful tenor voice.
After moving to Chicago, Illinois in 1948, Rush made a name for himself playing in clubs on both the South Side and West Side blues scenes. From 1956 to 1958, he recorded for the 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 No. 6 on Billboard's R&B chart. During his tenure with Cobra, he recorded some of his well known songs such as "Double Trouble" and "All Your Love (I Miss Loving)."
I lay awake at night can't sleep just so troubled
It's hard to keep a job, laid off and havin' double trouble
Hey, they say you can make it if you try
Yes, in this generation of millionaires, it's hard for me to keep decent clothes to wear
You laughed at me walkin' baby, when I had no place to go
Bad luck and trouble have taken me, I have got no money to show
Hey, hey, to make it you've got to try, baby, that's no lie