George "Buddy" Guy was born on July 30, 1936 in Lettsworth, Louisiana. He is the one who defined the sound of the electric blues guitar we know today. He also influenced many rock stars. On several occasions Jimi Hendrix even cancelled his concert to be able to see and hear Buddy Guy play "live". Eric Clapton considers Guy "the greatest blues guitarist ever". Stevie Ray Vaughan defined his unique style learning from Guy's guitar licks. Buddy Guy started playing guitar in the early '50's influenced by T-Bone Walker, Lightnin' Hopkins and Eddie "Guitar Slim" Jones. 50 years later he is the most awarded blues musician (Grammy's, W.C Handy Awards). He sold millions of records and circled the globe many times. And he still does that. Buddy Guy... the king of Chicago's blues today.
1957
Buddy Guy arrived to Chicago. Soon he started attending blues sessions playing with already established blues musicians: Muddy Waters, Freddie King, Otis Rush and Magic Sam.
1958
Buddy Guy performed at the "Battle of the Blues" contest sponsored by local clubs. He beat both Otis Rush and Magic Sam and won the prize, recording session for Cobra Records. The result was a single with "This Is the End" and "Try to Quit You Baby" produced by Willie Dixon.
1960
After Cobra's bankruptcy Buddy Guy moved to Chess Records. As an in-demand session guitarist he backed-up Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Sonny Boy Williamson, Koko Taylor and Arthur Crudup. First songs recorded for Chess were "First Time I Met the Blues" and "Broken Hearted Blues".
1962
Single "Stone Crazy" made to No.12 on the R&B charts.
1965
Buddy Guy was touring England for the first time. There he met many young British guitarists who were (to his surprise) very much influenced by his work. In Chicago, Buddy Guy played guitar during recording of Junior Wells' album "Hoodoo Man Blues" (Delmark). Harpist Junior Wells was Guy's close friend. He later became his long time working partner as well. The duo was especially popular among white blues fans. It was them who were later satirized by John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd in creation of the Blues Brothers.
1967
Chess released his first album, "I Left My Blues in San Francisco". After discovery of the new blues/rock movement in England, Buddy Guy visited Leonard Chess and asked for permition to introduce more rock elements into his recordings. Mr. Chess refused and Buddy Guy decided to leave Chess. Later that year he signed for Vanguard Records.
1968
Vanguard released album "A Man and the Blues". The album was in his proven Chess tradition and contained hit song "Mary Had a Little Lamb". "Live" album "This Is Buddy Guy" (Vanguard) was released later that year.
1969
Together with Junior Wells and pianist Junior Mance, Buddy Guy recorded album "Buddy and the Juniors" (Blue Thumb).
1972
Buddy Guy released album "Hold That Plane" (Vanguard). It featured Buddy's brother Phil also on guitar. With Junior Wells, Guy released solid album "Buddy Guy and Junior Wells Play the Blues" (Rhino).
1979
During long non-recording period Buddy Guy, accompanied with Junior Wells, constantly toured North America and Europe. Finally, he entered the studio to record "Stone Crazy". Recorded and released in France, album contained six highly-energetic songs.
1981
Alligator Records released "Stone Crazy" in the USA.
1982
Black Top released the album "Drinkin' TNT 'n' Smokin' Dynamite". It contained "live" recording of the Buddy Guy and Junior Welss' performance at the 1974 Montreux International Jazz Festival.
1989
Buddy Guy opened now-famous blues club, Legends, in Chicago.
1991
Second long non-recording period ended with the release of "Damn Right I've Got the Blues" (Silvertone). This superb album brought him a Grammy award. Also, Buddy Guy and Junior Wells were back together in studio. The result was acoustic album "Alone & Acoustic" (Alligator).
1993
A step back for Buddy Guy with the release of somewhat sloppy album "Feels Like Rain" (Silvertone).
1994
Things were back in track with "Slippin' In" (Silvertone) produced by famous producer Eddie Kramer. In return Buddy Guy received another Grammy award.
1996
"Live: The Real Deal" (Silvertone) was the successful "live" album that Buddy Guy made with the help of guitarist G.E. Smith and his The Saturday Night Live Band.
1998
Buddy Guy experienced a bit with the modern sounds on his next album "Heavy Love" (Silvertone). The album featured young blues star Jonny Lang. Junior Wells passed away that year. To celebrate his life and work Jive Records released album "Last Time Around - Live at Legends". The acoustic performance of two long time friends and collaborators actually took place back in 1993 in Buddy Guy's blues club.
2001
Buddy Guy scored big again, this time with the album "Sweet Tea" (Jive).
2003
Silvertone Records released Guy's acoustic album "Blues Singer". Eric Clapton and B.B. King made guest appearances.
2005
On March 15th Buddy Guy was inducted into Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame.
"Lyrics for All" pick:
His first two albums, "I Left My Blues in San Francisco" (Chess, 1967) and "A Man and the Blues" (Vanguard, 1968) are both exceptional blues records. Grammy awards for "Damn Right I've Got the Blues" (Silvertone, 1991) and "Slippin' In" (Silvertone, 1994) are more then deserved so high recommendations for these albums as well. For those who like to hear how Buddy Guy sounds "live", the best pick would certainly be "Live: The Real Deal" (Silvertone).
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