The Big Blues Bender festival in Las Vegas, celebrating its 10th anniversary, has consistently featured legendary names in the music industry, such as Buddy Guy, B.B. King, and Taj Mahal. This year’s marquee performer was set to be Beth Hart, but the opening night on Wednesday took an unexpected turn with the arrival of a surprise guest.
In an unannounced and unintroduced appearance, beloved Chicagoan and Hollywood icon Bill Murray joined Chicago’s the Blood Brothers at the Westgate Las Vegas casino resort. Known more for his comedic roles and satirical performances on “Saturday Night Live” than for his musical prowess, the 73-year-old Murray took the stage where Elvis once performed, much to the crowd’s growing amazement.
Murray’s set began with an energetic rendition of “Slow Down,” originally by Larry Williams and popularized by the Beatles. Despite forgetting the lyrics to Bob Dylan’s “Like a Rolling Stone” and attempting to read them from an iPad, Murray was heartily supported by the audience, who helped by enthusiastically shouting the chorus.
His appearance was not without purpose. Famous for his selective public appearances, Murray’s participation was aimed at supporting the Blues Foundation’s Handy Artists Relief Trust (HART) Fund. The organization assists with medical, dental, and funeral expenses for blues musicians. This year’s performance and auction successfully raised $107,000 for the cause.
The Big Blues Bender, which has moved from its original 2014 venue at the Riviera to the Westgate in 2015 after the Riviera closed, carries on through Sunday. The HART party, marking the festival’s commencement since 2016, continues to be an integral and philanthropic component of the event.
