Led by SNL keyboardist, Paul Shaffer, the band consisted of a few of soul music's most right players & occasionally SNL band regulars. A Original Line higher consisted of:

Elwood Blues in Blues Harp & Vocals, "Joliet" Jake Blues in Lead Vocals, Steve "The Colonel" Sharecrop farmer in Guitar, Donald "Duck" Dunn in Bass, Matt "Guitar" Spud in "Guitar, Paul "A Shiv" Shaffer on Keyboards, Steve "Getdwa" Jordan on Drums, Tom "Triple Shell" Scott on Sax, Tom "Bones" Malone on Trombone and Sax, Alan "Mr. Fabulous" Rubin on Trumpet and Lou "Blue Lou" Marini on Sax.

In the film,

Murphy "Murph" Dunne played Keyboards Willie "As well Heavy" Hall played Drums,

replacing Shaffer and Jordan, who by that time were in the house band on Late Night with David Letterman. Tom Scott is heard on the recordings for the film, but doesn't appear on screen