It was 80-year-old Rush's debut appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. After the lively and light-hearted performance Ackroyd pointed at Rush and said simply: "The real thing!"

The actor and musician later told Fallon: "James Brown is gone, Little Richard's not going to tour no more and B.B. King is slowing down. Bobby Rush is the last one left of that generation. Did you see him move?"