Which blues duo began as an SNL musical sketch by John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd?

The Blues Brothers began as an SNL musical sketch featuring John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd. Belushi performed as singer “Joliet” Jake Blues, while Aykroyd played harmonica as Elwood Blues, creating a deadpan rhythm-and-blues act that quickly outgrew the sketch.

The characters’ earliest roots appeared in January 1976, when Belushi and Aykroyd performed “I’m a King Bee” on SNL. They wore bee costumes associated with another recurring sketch, but the musical partnership evolved into the suited, sunglasses-wearing Blues Brothers. Their performances drew on classic Chicago blues, soul, and R&B traditions.

The act became a real touring band and released the album Briefcase Full of Blues in 1978. That same year, the duo starred in the feature film The Blues Brothers, directed by John Landis. The movie expanded the SNL premise into a musical road comedy featuring major performers such as Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Cab Calloway, and Ray Charles.

The name can be confused with other brother-themed acts, but The Blues Brothers is the canonical SNL creation. The Smothers Brothers and Righteous Brothers were unrelated musical duos.