Buddy Guy
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George "Buddy" Guy
(Born July 30, 1936. Buddy Guy will never die)
"Buddy Guy is an absolute monster"
- Jimmy Page, Led Zepplin
Buddy Guy's rip-roaring, tearing, wailing guitar ability is every bit as legendary as his wild,
polka-dot wearing, walking through the crowd, playing with his teeth, one hand tied behind his back
stage antics. He's a Rock and roll Hall of Fame inductee, a five-time Grammy Winner, a record 21
time W.C. Handy award winner, and still putting out some of the best Blues this ol' world has ever
seen. Born to sharecroppers in Louisiana, Buddy is, by definition, one of the purest Blues
men alive.
Buddy Guy playing a concert in 2008
September 25, 1957; he boarded a train bound for Chicago, (to commemorate the day,
he has 92557 engraved on all of his guitars) with no particular place to go. He
didn't go with the intention of being a professional musician, but instead just wanting
to be a part of the Blues and see the greats as they played. His first break came when
he played after Otis Rush at the legendary 708 Club. He played so well someone called
Muddy Waters himself down to check him out that night.
Not long after that; he got his
first recording contract after playing against Otis Rush in a now legendary battle of
the bands. They introduced ol' Buddy and all you could hear was him playing guitar...
then he burst out of the bathroom, walked across the top of the bar and, still playing,
walked right out the door into the snow, still plugged into the amplifier. Thus began
the larger-than-life stage presence that was Buddy Guy. Pretty soon he was playing
as session guitarist at what could be considered the greatest Blues record label
to have ever existed,
Chess Records,
and the rest is sweet Blues history.
"Guitar Legends do not come any better than Buddy Guy. He is feted by his
peers and loved by his fans for his ability to make the guitar both talk and
cry the blues… Such is Buddy’s mastery of the guitar that there is virtually
no guitarist that he cannot imitate."
- Bill Wyman, The Rolling Stones
Stevie Ray Vaughan and
Eric Clapton, among many
other larger-than-life musicians, named Buddy Guy as their greatest influence.
Jimi Hendrix, whose crazy style of one-handed and behind the back
playing came straight from the book of Buddy, even canceled his shows
to watch Buddy play in bars. He was quoted once as saying, "Heaven is sitting
at Buddy Guy's feet while listening to him play guitar". Buddy's latest work,
Skin Deep, is a powerful, wide-ranging, Grammy nominated album of all the Blues
that makes Buddy; Buddy. Buddy divides
his time between touring, recording, and running his club, "Buddy Guy's Legends" in Chicago.
Notable songs by Buddy Guy
Damn Right, I've Got The Blues
Baby Please Don't Leave Me
Feels Like Rain
Notable albums by Buddy Guy
Skin Deep
(buy album)
(download album)
Sweet Tea
(buy album)
(download album)
Notable websites on Buddy Guy
Buddy Guy's Website
Rolling Stone Magazine Article: Buddy Guy the Kingpin
Rolling Stone Magazine Article: Secrets of the Guitar Heros: Buddy Guy
Notable books on Buddy Guy
Damn Right I'Ve Got the Blues: Buddy Guy and the Blues Roots of Rock-and-Roll by Donald E. Wilcock and Buddy Guy
