Elvin Bishop

Biography

Elvin Bishop, born October 21, 1942, in Glendale, California, grew up on a farm in Iowa before moving to Oklahoma at age ten. His early exposure to blues came from late-night radio, which inspired him to pursue music. Winning a National Merit Scholarship, Bishop attended the University of Chicago, immersing himself in the vibrant Chicago blues scene and meeting harmonica player Paul Butterfield. Together, they formed the Paul Butterfield Blues Band in 1963, a group that became pivotal in introducing electric Chicago blues to rock audiences and was later inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

After five years and four albums with the Butterfield Blues Band, Bishop moved to San Francisco in 1968, where he formed the Elvin Bishop Group and became a fixture at the Fillmore Auditorium, jamming with legends like Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, and B.B. King. His solo career flourished in the 1970s, highlighted by the hit "Fooled Around and Fell in Love" from the album 'Struttin’ My Stuff' (1975). Bishop is celebrated for his unique slide guitar style, blending blues, rock, gospel, R&B, and country influences, and for his sense of humor and storytelling in his music. Over decades, he has remained a respected figure in American roots music, earning multiple Grammy nominations and continuing to perform and record into the 21st century.

Fun Facts

• Elvin Bishop's nickname 'Pigboy Crabshaw' was used as the title for the Butterfield Blues Band's third album.
• His iconic Gibson ES-345 guitar, nicknamed 'Red Dog,' was acquired in a trade with blues guitarist Louis Myers and has been his main instrument ever since.
• Bishop's hit 'Fooled Around and Fell in Love' featured future Jefferson Starship vocalist Mickey Thomas and reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100.
• He has appeared on NPR’s Fresh Air, Rolling Stone, and performed multiple times on A Prairie Home Companion.

Associated Acts

• The Paul Butterfield Blues Band (1963–1968)
• The Elvin Bishop Group - eponymous
• The Elvin Bishop Band - original
• Elvin Bishop’s Big Fun Trio - guitar, lead vocals

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Smokey Smothers - Taught Bishop the basics of blues guitar after befriending him in Chicago. (Informal mentorship, early 1960s blues sessions) [Early 1960s]

Key Collaborators

• Paul Butterfield - Co-founder and bandmate in the Paul Butterfield Blues Band. (The Paul Butterfield Blues Band (1965), East-West (1966), The Resurrection of Pigboy Crabshaw (1967), In My Own Dream (1968)) [1963–1968]
• Mike Bloomfield - Bandmate in the Paul Butterfield Blues Band and collaborator on live albums. (The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, East-West, The Live Adventures of Mike Bloomfield and Al Kooper) [1965–1968]
• Mickey Thomas - Vocalist on Bishop's hit "Fooled Around and Fell in Love." (Struttin’ My Stuff (1975)) [1975]
• B.B. King - Shared stages and toured together. (Touring and live performances) [1995 and various years]
• Charlie Musselwhite - Recent collaborator, including Grammy-nominated projects. (100 Years of Blues (2020)) [2010s–2020s]

Artists Influenced

• The Allman Brothers Band - The dual-guitar format and blues-rock fusion pioneered by Bishop's work with the Butterfield Blues Band influenced the Allman Brothers' approach. (Band's dual-guitar sound and blues-rock style) [1970s]
• Derek and the Dominos - Inspired by the progressive, guitar-driven blues-rock of the Butterfield Blues Band. (Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs) [1970s]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. Fooled Around And Fell In Love (Struttin' My Stuff)
2. Fooled Around And Fell In Love
3. Fooled Around And Fell In Love
4. Travelin' Shoes (Let It Flow)
5. Devil's Slide (Don't Let The Bossman Get You Down!)
6. Fooled Around And Fell In Love
7. She Puts Me In The Mood (Big Fun)
8. Sure Feels Good (Juke Joint Jump)
9. Fooled Around And Fell In Love
10. Keep On Rollin' (Elvin Bishop's Big Fun Trio)

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia
• MusicBrainz

Tags: #blue-eyed-soul, #blues, #blues-rock