ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi sˈɛvən, wɪððɪ ɐdˈɪʃən ʌv tʃˈæn kˈɪntʃlə ˌɔn ɡɪtˈɑːɹ ænd bˈɑːbi ʃˈiːhən ˌɔn bˈeɪs, ðeɪ ɹᵻnˈeɪmd ðɛmsˈɛlvz "blˈuːz tɹˈævəlɚ".
In 1987, with the addition of Chan Kinchla on guitar and Bobby Sheehan on bass, they renamed themselves "Blues Traveler".