It’s been a long time coming, but one of the most influential men in Blues history has finally penned his life story for the world to read. Blues Guitarist Buddy Guy, along with writer David Ritz, encompassed the entire story of Buddy Guy that will be released via Da Capo Press on May 8, 2012.
From the time his ears heard the musical notes of John Lee Hookers “Boogie Chilin,” Buddy was immediately hooked on the blues. A guy named “Coot” used to come to Buddy’s home every Christmas and play for the family. This is how he got his first taste of live music. In fact, a couple of years later, Buddy’s dad purchased that same guitar for Buddy. His love for music grew stronger and his path to stardom was poised to take flight from this moment on.
Buddy’s current act is derived from the first man he saw live at the Masonic Temple in Baton Rouge. That man was Guitar Slim. The most important day that the book surrounds its story on is September 25, 1957, the day that Buddy left home to pursue his musical dreams in Chicago. He ended up meeting and playing with most of the heroes he had long admired once he moved to Chicago. This would include the legendary Muddy Waters, who ironically ended up talking Buddy into staying when he had a hard time of making ends meet (Buddy wanted to leave and go back to Louisiana.) Obviously that didn’t happen and the story takes off from there.
Buddy’s career takes him not only through the blues community but the rock community, as he played with Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, and Keith Richards. He has formed strong relationships with many other prominent musicians along the way as well. It’s funny how the British invasion really opened the doors for the blues even though their music (The Blues) wasn’t derived from it. Reading the book you see how Buddy struggled along with his fellow blues counterparts to break into the big time until the likes of Clapton and Richards really brought Buddy’s and others music to the forefront to get their just due. Without giving too much of the legendary stories in the book away, it should be noted Buddy also graced the stage for what would be the last performance of the late, great Stevie Ray Vaughn.
There are so many intricate details on how Buddy got from point A to point Z and everything in between. The book is a musical journey that doesn’t give up to much of his personal life’s details. A great read, not only for the blues enthusiast, but for the rock and roll enthusiast as well.
