Early Morning Blues formed in Chicago in the early 2010s with Duke Jackson on vocals and guitar, Marcus Carter on bass, and Elijah James on drums. They took cues from blues figures like Muddy Waters and B.B. King, but aimed to put their own spin on the tradition rather than just recreating it.
Their 2014 debut single "Chapter One" got them noticed with its straightforward blues arrangement and Jackson's vocal delivery. That song, along with others like "Never Leave" and "War and Wisdom," appeared on their self-titled 2016 debut album. Later records like 2018's "The Blues Ain't Dead" and 2020's "Soul Shakedown" brought in some soul and funk touches while keeping the blues foundation.
In 2019, the band dealt with plagiarism claims over their song "Midnight Train," which some said resembled an older blues tune. They denied copying anything, but the episode was a distraction for a while. They kept playing shows where James's drum solos and Jackson's stage presence became part of their live set.
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