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 Quintessential Chicago bluesman George “Buddy” Guy is a living legend and a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee with five decades of music behind him — and his masterfully unhinged guitar playing still has the power to shock, stun and mystify listeners. A true pioneer of the Second City’s electrified blues, Guy is a unique figure in that his work continues to blend the soul-deep showman traditions of forbears such as Muddy Waters and Willie Dixon with the instrumental virtuosity of latter-day guitar heroes from Hendrix to Clapton to Stevie Ray Vaughan.
Guy began making a name for himself on the Chicago club scene in the late ’50s, and by 1960 was on the roster of hot blues talents recording for Chicago’s Chess Records. Tracks from that era such as “Stone Crazy” and “Leave My Girl Alone” did a fine job of capturing Guy’s powerful, barely controlled approach to vocals and guitar, but he truly soared in live performances, using extra-long guitar cords to deliver his blistering solos from anywhere inside — or outside — a venue. Early on, Guy began a sometimes-tempestuous partnership with harmonica player Junior Wells, and their work together remains a highlight of both their discographies.
Heralded as a master of his craft by a couple of generations of players, Guy’s recording career was revitalized in 1991 with the release of Damn Right, I’ve Got the Blues on the Silvertone label. He’s continued to tour and record steadily, often working with a number of talented collaborators on his albums. In 2008, Guy released Skin Deep, an album of original material that features guest spots by Clapton, Robert Randolph, and the husband and wife guitar team of Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks.
Provenance: Lettsworth, Louisiana
Latest Release: Skin Deep (2008)
© 2008 Nigel Music Media LLC. Used by permission.
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