Bobby Rush reflects on taking part in “Sinners” soundtrack

Three-time Grammy® Award-winning blues legend Bobby Rush continues his legacy in 2025 with his involvement in the hit film written and directed by Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Ryan Coogler and starring Michael B. Jordan, “Sinners”; new album with Kenny Wayne Shepherd titled “Young Fashioned Ways”; his current U.S. tour; first-ever Grand Ole Opry performance coming up with Shepherd; and upcoming Austin City Limits performance.

On Warner Bros.’ “Sinners,” Rush consulted the actors a bit and recorded a couple of tracks for the Southern gothic film where a 1930s Mississippi juke joint’s blues music attracts vampires, leading to a supernatural showdown that blends Black folklore, Delta blues, and horror. Rush’s performance on the “Sinners” soundtrack, which debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Soundtracks chart with two million listeners on Spotify in April, features his trademark harmonica on the song “Juke,” (almost 300,000 streams on Spotify) a cover of Little Walter, with co-artist/actor Miles Caton.  The mega-successful film in theaters now, hit $166M at the box office, has a 98% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and received a rave Spike Lee review. The Sony Music-released soundtrack includes recordings by Buddy Guy, Brittany Howard, and James Blake.

Says Rush: “‘Sinners’ is one of the coolest movies I’ve ever seen. They did a great job with the music in the film and soundtrack, and I’m happy that I was able to be a part of it. The music was overseen by Ludwig Göransson, and his wife Serena called me to be a consultant on set with the lead actors and to play on the song ‘Juke.’ I hit it off with the guys in the movie and feel like I was able to share with them what it’s been like being a bluesman these last 75 plus years of my career from picking cotton for my daddy in Louisiana, to having my first band Bobby Rush and the Four Jivers with Elmore James and Luther Allison in Arkansas, hitting the scene in Chicago in the 1950s alongside Little Walter, Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Etta James and Buddy Guy, to returning home to Mississippi.”

He continues, “It hasn’t been easy in my life and career but it’s moments like these that lift me up higher and higher. I believe I’m the oldest active blues singer left, since I’m a hair older than Buddy Guy; and I’m still enthused. Two of the greatest milestones of my career have been this latest album, ‘Young Fashioned Ways’ with Kenny Wayne Shepherd that we are touring now and being a part of this instant classic, ‘Sinners.'”

Earlier this year, Rush and five-time Grammy® nominated singer/songwriter/guitarist Kenny Wayne Shepherd, dropped their new collection of blues songs titled YOUNG FASHIONED WAYS. Rush and Shepherd just began a 27-city U.S. tour and will continue to support the album with a string of European dates, including London and Montreux Jazz Festival. Both artists have a long history of performing at the legendary New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival; this weekend, they will perform together to close out the Blues Tent on Saturday, May 3. This year’s line-up includes Pearl Jam, Dave Matthews Band, and Lenny Kravitz.

Rush will also be making his debut Grand Ole Opry performance with Shepherd on August 2. Fans around the world can tune in to the live broadcast on opry.com and wsmonline.com, SiriusXM Willie’s Roadhouse, or its flagship home WSM Radio.

Rush will appear on Austin City Limits, which will air during their next season. His segment will be a tribute to 50 years of the Austin-based blues club Antone’s. The episode includes Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Jimmy Vaughan, and Charlie Sexton. Austin City Limits is the longest running music show on television, airing Saturday nights on PBS with previous guests including Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Foo Fighters, B.B. King, Bonnie Raitt, The Killers, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Tom Waits, Dolly Parton, Dave Matthews Band, and Kendrick Lamar.

BOBBY RUSH & KENNY WAYNE SHEPHERD BAND U.S. TOUR DATES INCLUDE:

5/1/25 – TempleLive – Ft. Smith, A
5/3/25 – Jazz Fest – New Orleans, L
5/4/25 – House of Blues – Houston, TX
5/6/25 – Gillioz Theatre – Springfield, MO                              
5/7/25 – Astro – Omaha, NE                               
5/8/25 – TempleLive – Wichita, KS                                
5/9/25 – Paramount – Denver, CO                                 
5/11/25 – Cheyenne Civic Center – Cheyenne, WY          
5/13/25 – Avalon Theatre – Grand Junction, CO                 
5/14/25 – Capitol Theatre – Salt Lake City, UT                      
5/16/25 – Memorial Hall – Pueblo, CO                                       
5/17/25 – Buffalo Thunder Casino – Santa Fe, NM                                            
5/18/25 – Wild Horse Pass Casino – Chandler, AZ                                            
6/6/25 – Majestic Theatre – Dallas, TX                                       
6/7/25 – River Spirit Casino – Tulsa, OK                                   
8/15/25 – Hollywood Casino – Lawrenceburg, IN                         
8/16/25 – Fox City PAC – Appleton, WI                                  
8/17/25 – Pantages Theatre – Minneapolis, MN                            
8/19/25 – Mayo Civic Center – Rochester, MN                               
8/21/25 – Sweetwater Pavilion – Fort Wayne, IN                              
8/22/25 – Four Winds Casino – New Buffalo, MI                             
8/23/25 – Lincoln State Park Amp – Lincoln City, IN 
9/4/25 – Humphreys Concerts By The Bay – San Diego, CA     
9/7/25 – Rhythm On The Vine Concert Series – Temecula, CA
9/8/25 – Uptown Theatre – Napa, CA