Jim Belushi Biography

Jim Belushi and the Sacred Hearts was born out of actor Jim Belushi’s genuine love for music and the blues. Born in 1954 in Chicago, Jim, like his brother John, initially embarked on an acting career. The two began as members of The Second City, a Chicago theater group, in the late 1970’s, and Jim’s first television and film gigs were around the same time.

After John Belushi’s death, Jim Belushi joined the cast of Saturday Night Live, and his film career became even more successful. Notable appearances include: About Last Night, Little Shop of Horrors, The Principal, Only the Lonely, Curly Sue, Wild Palms, Separate Lives, and Joe Somebody. But like his brother, Jim Belushi also possessed an insatiable love of the blues, and so in the late 1990’s, he developed Jim Belushi and the Sacred Hearts. The Sacred Hearts comprises some of the most notable musicians in blues today.  The lineup consists of: Larry Lee Lerma (bass), Johnny Lee Schell (guitar), Glen Clark (piano), Joe Sublett (sax and composer), John Rubano (vocals), J.J. Holiday (guitar), Jimmie Wood (harp and vocals), Darrel Leonard (trumpet), Tony Braunagel (drums), and Kim Nail (vocals.)

Collectively, Jim Belushi and the Sacred Hearts compile the most impressive resume imaginable. The individual band members have performed with the likes of Bonnie Raitt, Joe Cocker, Etta James, Melissa Etheridge, Taj Mahal, Lyle Lovett, Ron Wood, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Taj Mahal, Little Feat, B.B. King, Wynonna Judd, Travis Tritt, and Bruce Springsteen, Etta James, Bruce Hornsby, Cheap Trick, Otis Rush, Little Feat, and Lou Rawl, to name just a few. Individual members have also contributed tracks or musical arrangements to a variety of films, including Indecent Proposal, Tommy Boy, That Thing You Do!, Home Alone, and Swing Shift. ??

The band released their debut, 36-22-36, in 1998, and the high energy performance of Jim Belushi and the Sacred Hearts is captured on the album, which features singles such as “Smokin’ Blues,” “Watch Yourself,” “Leap of Faith,” and the title track. But the band is best appreciated live, and counts among their most devoted fans former President Bill Clinton himself.  They continue to perform and tour, making appearances regularly. The band’s most recent performances in 2017 include a set at the Florida Strawberry Festival in Plant City, Florida, and the PBS special, A Capitol Fourth.