Home → Overview → Blues Artists → Buddy Guy

Buddy Guy

Damn Right He Got the Blues

Born George Guy on July 30, 1936 in Lettsworth, Louisiana, Buddy Guy began playing professionally in the Baton Rouge area in the early 1950s. The young Buddy Guy was mainly influenced by T-Bone Walker, Lightnin' Hopkins, Lightnin' Slim, and Guitar Slim. In 1957, Buddy Guy went to Chicago. In 1958, he won the "Battle of the Blues" against Magic Sam and Otis Rush. After this success, Buddy Guy soon made his first recordings for Artistic. In 1960, Buddy Guy signed with Chess Records and became a star in the Chicago blues scene. He also sat in many recording sessions with other blues giants like Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Willie Dixon, Little Walter, Sonny Boy Williamson, and Koko Taylor. In 1965, Buddy Guy toured England and inspired many British musicians like the young Eric Clapton. In 1967, Buddy Guy left Chess Records and signed with Vanguard. In these years, Buddy Guy began his long cooperation with Junior Wells. They were known as the Blues Brothers long before Jake and Elwood. Buddy Guy later also recorded for Delmark, Alligator, Silvertone/Jive, JSP, and Blind Pig Records. Buddy Guy won countless awards: an inductee of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, five Grammy Awards, 23 W.C. Handy Awards, Billboard Magazine's Century Award, the title of Greatest Living Electric Blues Guitarist, and the Congressional Medal of Arts. In 1989, Buddy Guy opened his blues club Legends in Chicago. Buddy Guy is regarded as an innovator of the blues and a virtuoso guitar player. Buddy Guy is one of Rolling Stone Magazine's 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time. In 2006, Buddy Guy received his doctoral hood and degree from Columbia’s School of Fine and Performing Arts and School of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Home → Overview → Blues Artists → Buddy Guy