Watch Etta James & Taj Mahal Perform ‘Mockingbird’ On ‘Letterman’

In 1994, the comedy feature film Dumb And Dumber presented a scene in which the main characters, Lloyd Christmas (portrayed by actor Jim Carrey) and Harry Dunne (portrayed by Jeff Daniels), sang the song “Mockingbird” while traveling along the highway in a car decorated like a dog. The outrageous scene unfolds with Lloyd and Harry picking up a hitchhiking Mexican family, which results in the “Mockingbird” singalong adding in some Spanish elements.

Based on the familiar lullabye, “Hush, Little Baby,” the song “Mockingbird” was written and recorded by Inez & Charlie Foxx. The sister-brother sibling outfit released the song as a single in 1963, and it quickly became a smash hit for the duo. The song went on to be covered by many well-known musicians, often replicating the duet call-in-response established by Inez & Charlie Foxx.

In 1993 – one year before the memorable “Mockingbird” Dumb And Dumber scene – country-blues musician Taj Mahal included a recording of the song on his Dancing the Blues album. Mahal enlisted legendary blues vocalist Etta James for the album track, which also featured Little Feat keyboardist Bill Payne and drummer Richie Hayward, guitarists John Porter and Johnny Lee Schell and The Texacali Horns.

In January 1994, while promoting the album, Taj Mahal performed on the Late Show With David Letterman and brought Etta James, who was born on this date in 1938, along for the appearance. Mahal and James were backed by Paul Shaffer and The World’s Most Dangerous Band on the funky, blues-infused arrangement of “Mockingbird.”

A display of the legendary pair’s musical prowess and vocal dexterity, the duet on Letterman took “Mockingbird” well beyond its original sweet-sounding pop arrangement. Watch Etta James and Taj Mahal’s memorable performance below: