Fooled Around and Fell in Love

Hey there, Zoo Freaks! Your hippie DJs at THE ZOO are spinning a classic for you today—Fooled Around and Fell in Love by Elvin Bishop from his 1975 album Struttin' My Stuff. This soulful, bluesy hit climbed to #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1976, and here’s some juicy trivia to vibe with. Did you know Elvin Bishop didn’t sing lead on this track? His gravelly voice, perfect for blues, didn’t feel right for this smooth number, so he handed the mic to Mickey Thomas, a background singer in his band. Mickey nailed it—mostly in one take, though he ad-libbed after the guitar solo in a second pass, giving us that raw, heartfelt vibe. In a Songfacts interview, Elvin shared that he’d tried to get others to sing it before, but it only clicked with Mickey, who later soared with Jefferson Starship. The song’s magic also landed it in Guardians of the Galaxy’s Awesome Mix Vol. 1, blasting through the cosmos, and in a heartfelt wedding scene in Friday Night Lights. Oh, and fun fact: Miranda Lambert covered it in 2019 with her tour crew, snagging an Academy of Country Music Award for Vocal Event of the Year!

Now, let’s rewind to how Elvin Bishop kicked off his legendary career. Born October 21, 1942, in Glendale, California, Elvin grew up on a farm in Iowa before his family moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma. A brainy kid, he won a National Merit Scholarship to the University of Chicago, studying physics. But Chicago’s blues scene stole his heart. In 1963, he met harmonica wizard Paul Butterfield in Hyde Park and joined the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, where he honed his guitar chops for five years. Elvin’s gritty Telecaster swapped for a Gibson ES-345 (nicknamed “Red Dog”) became his signature. By 1968, he went solo, forming the Elvin Bishop Group and jamming with icons like Jimi Hendrix and B.B. King at the Fillmore. Signing with Capricorn Records, he dropped Struttin' My Stuff, and Fooled Around became his biggest hit. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2015 with Butterfield’s band and the Blues Hall of Fame solo in 2016, Elvin’s still rocking his countrified blues worldwide.

Wanna keep up with this blues legend? Check out Elvin’s official website at elvinbishopmusic.com for tour dates and news. He’s grooving on social media too—follow him on Facebook, Instagram, and X for updates and some good-time vibes. For the Zoo Freaks who can’t get enough, join fan communities like the Elvin Bishop Fans Facebook group to swap stories and celebrate his music. Keep it funky, and stay tuned to THE ZOO for more classics!