The Blues Brothers ( Elwood Blues and Joliet `` Jake '' Blues ) are fictional characters which became well known from the TV show Saturday Night Live . The Blues Brothers ( or , more formally , The Blues Brothersâ Show Band and Revue ) are an American blues and soul revivalist band founded in 1978 by comedy actors Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi as part of a musical sketch on Saturday Night Live . Belushi and Aykroyd , respectively in character as lead vocalist `` Joliet '' Jake Blues and harmonica player\/vocalist Elwood Blues , fronted the band , which was composed of well-known and respected musicians .