Otis Rush Quotes

United States, Guitarist
April 29, 1935 – September, 29, 2018.

Otis Rush (born April 29, 1934) is a blues guitarist and singer. His distinctive guitar style features a slow-burning sound and long bent notes. With qualities similar to the styles of 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.

Also known as Singer-Songwriter

I was staying with my sister and messing around with the guitar every day for my own amusement. Then she took me around and introduced me to Muddy Waters, Jimmy Rogers, Little Walter, and the first time I saw that onstage, it inspired me to play. I thought that was the world.

Otis Rush
- Time
- World
- She
I didn't know Albert back then - I just learned to play that way. He and I were the only guys that played left-handed. Then left-handed people came from every direction.

Otis Rush
- People
- Know
- Play

I'll sit around and play my guitar; that's how I write tunes.

Otis Rush
- Play
- Guitar
- Sit
A guy will promise you the world and give you nothin', and that's the blues.

Otis Rush
- World
- Guy
- You
I used to listen to country and western and blues, John Lee Hooker, spirituals, the Bluegrass Boys, and Eddie Arnold. There was a radio station that come on everyday with country, spirituals, and the blues.

Otis Rush
- Country
- Everyday
- Listen
I used to just sign papers and not pay no attention to what I'm signing.

Otis Rush
- Attention
- Pay
- Used
Nobody can tell you how the blues feel unless they have the blues. We all take it differently.

Otis Rush
- You
- Nobody
- Blues
Oh, I was working occasionally in and out of New York.

Otis Rush
- Working
- New
- New York

Them pains, when blues pains grab you, you'll sing the blues right.

Otis Rush
- You
- Right
- Blues
I picked all the tunes before I went to Memphis, and the band was all set. Willie Mitchell is an arranger like I am, and he let me do what I had to do.

Otis Rush
- Band
- Tunes
- Memphis