Buddy Guy

Buddy Guy (born George Guy, July 30, 1936 in Lettsworth, Louisiana) is an American blues music and rock music guitarist, as well as a singer. Known as an inspiration to Jimi Hendrix and other 1960s blues and rock legends, Guy is considered to be one of the greatest exponents of Chicago blues made famous by Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf. He has influenced both widely known and local blues guitarists. Eric Clapton once said of him, "By far and without doubt the greatest guitarist alive today".

Related Topics:
July 30 - 1936 - Louisiana - American - Blues music - Rock music - Guitar - Jimi Hendrix - 1960s - Chicago blues - Muddy Waters - Howlin' Wolf - Eric Clapton

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Guy is known for his showmanship; for example, he plays with drumsticks and walks into the audience whilst playing, the latter being a gimmick he picked up from a local blues guitarist at an early age (joining or leaping into the audience has also long been common in both American popular and gospel music, as in the earlier work of Big Jay McNeely or the Dixie Hummingbirds).

Related Topics:
Popular - Gospel music - Big Jay McNeely - Dixie Hummingbirds

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Guy grew up in Louisiana and learned to play on a guitar he made himself. In the early 1950s he began playing with bands in Baton Rouge. After moving to Chicago in 1957, Guy fell under the influence of Muddy Waters. In 1958 he won a record contract with Artistic Records after beating West Side guitarists Magic Sam and Otis Rush in a competition at the Blue Flame Club. Soon afterwards he recorded for the Cobra label.

Related Topics:
Chicago - 1957 - Muddy Waters - Magic Sam - Otis Rush

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In the early 1960s, Guy was a session guitarist for legendary Chess Records, sometimes playing bass guitar. It was claimed Phil and Leonard Chess would not allow him turn up the volume on his amp. He recorded on Junior Wells sessions for Delmark Records under the pseudonym Friendly Chap in 1965 and 1966. His career took off during a blues revival period in the late 1980s and early 1990s, and was sparked by Eric Clapton's request that Guy be part of the '24 nights' all-star blues guitar lineup at London's Royal Albert Hall and Guy's subsequent signing with Silvertone Records.

Related Topics:
Chess Records - Bass guitar - Junior Wells - Delmark Records - 1965 - 1966 - 1980s - 1990s - London - Royal Albert Hall - Silvertone Records

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Notable albums include Stone Crazy, Damn Right I've Got The Blues, Feels Like Rain, Blues Singer, Buddy's Baddest: The Best Of Buddy Guy, and Junior Wells' Hoodoo Man Blues.

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His club, Buddy Guy's Legends, is a popular club in Chicago.

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