One of Chicago‘s greatest — and arguably one of the greatest living bluesman, Buddy Guy turns 85 today. As a sideman, collaborator and frontman, the Lettsworth, LA-born, Chicago-based Guy has been connected to a who’s who list of music history: he’s played with Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Junior Wells, Sonny Boy Williamson and countless others.
Guy has also influenced a who’s who of guitarists since the 1960s including Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Keith Richards, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jeff Beck, Gary Clark, Jr. John Mayer and even Eric Clapton.
Today, I thought it would be fitting to celebrate the man, his music and his life. After all, we need to give our legends their flowers while they can happily accept them. So happy birthday, Buddy! May there be many, many more!
I’ll add that I’ve had the luck and pleasure of seeing him twice — and if you haven’t caught him live, you better go out there and catch him do his thing.
