Bill Murray Steps Into the Spotlight as Lead Singer of Blues-Rock Band

Bill Murray, best known for his long career in movies and TV, has taken on a surprising new role as lead singer in a bluesy classic-rock band called Blood Brothers.

This isn’t a comedy skit or an “SNL” bit. Murray is genuinely performing with the band, sharing vocals on songs by the Kinks, Stephen Stills, Paul Butterfield, and more.

“This band is made up of all-stars,” Murray told reporters about the nine-member group. “Each of them brings a different energy, which makes me really have to dig in. I enjoy the challenge each night and am thankful they keep it coming!”

The band is led by guitarists Mike Zito and Albert Castiglia, who co-founded Blood Brothers in 2022. Both are accomplished musicians with numerous Blues Music Awards between them. For their current tour, they’re joined by guitarist Jimmy Vivino, known for his time in the house band on “Late Night with Conan O’Brien.”

“If you can’t engage with the crowd, what’s the point? Watching Bill get off on stage is a perfect example of that. His charisma and his ability to connect is an amazing thing to behold,” Vivino said.

Murray’s connection to the band began at The Murray Brothers’ Caddyshack Golf Tournament in Florida, where he performed with them for the first time. The event is named after the 1980 film “Caddyshack,” in which Murray played a wild golf-course groundskeeper. The actor quickly agreed to join the group full-time after a fun initial performance.

Their first official show as Bill Murray & His Blood Brothers took place in Chicago earlier this year. Murray, who started in comedy at Second City, had tried singing in a teenage cover band called the Dutch Masters, but his musical career never fully took off. Over the years, he occasionally showcased his singing talent, including his SNL performances as Nick The Lounge Singer and in the film “Lost in Translation.”

Murray has also explored music through other projects, such as the 2017 “New Worlds” tour, performing songs by Gershwin and Stephen Foster while reciting classic poetry and prose.

Today, audiences flock to concerts billed as Bill Murray & His Blood Brothers, drawn by the actor’s star power. Murray, however, shares the spotlight with the rest of the band, alternating between lead vocals and playing percussion instruments like cowbell, congas, and tambourine.

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