Buddy Guy’s story is truly the “American Dream” come to life. A sharecropper’s son, born in a small clapboard house, on a hot July day, in Lettsworth, Louisiana. His rise to become a Blues Legend, 8 time Grammy Winner, honored to play his blues in front of two US Presidents, and have a Blues club that is renowned worldwide, are just a few of his accomplishments.
When he was a little child, he made his guitar out of rubber bands and screen wire, anything to make the sound that was pleasing to his ear.
Later, in an interview, he was asked, “Did you use so much screen wire that the bugs would fly into your house and your mom made you stop? Buddy said no, and told this story,
He said, “One man had a guitar, and every house would have a gallon of wine and a case of beer to welcome people. Everyone went house to house, and after they fell out drunk, I’d get that man’s guitar and play.”
Buddy played clubs in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and decided to leave his home, and went to Chicago, in search of the Blues. He’d mailed Chess Records a Demo tape, and was hoping to make it as a Blues Artist.
He became a starving artist, and said he had not had anything to eat for three days, when he thought he would call home and leave Chicago. He didn’t have a dime to call home, and he couldn’t even borrow a dime.
But he was playing in a small club, when a stranger came in. Now his friends had told him about muggers and told him to be careful in the big city. This stranger came in, walked on stage, and hit Buddy in the head. The hit was hard enough that it made Buddy’s ears ring. He thought the stranger said “Mug” and he became scared he was going to be mugged. But the stranger had actually said, “I’m Mud.” (Muddy Waters)
Muddy said to Buddy, “I heard you was hungry, but I want to tell you if you feed a starving dog, they won’t hunt.”
Then Muddy took Buddy outside to his Cherry Red Station Wagon, and made him a Salami and Bread sandwich. Buddy was shy and didn’t want to take it though, and he told Muddy that he wasn’t hungry anymore, because he had met the great Muddy Waters. And that was how Buddy Guy and Muddy Waters met and became friends, and came to work together at Chess Records.
Going overseas, to England and Germany, was a great experience, and boosted Buddy’s confidence. He was treated like a star, and humbly accepted the kindness of the fans. Buddy had a lifelong dream – to meet the great Bluesman, John Lee Hooker. It finally happened in Germany, Buddy tells the story,
“I went downstairs and saw this man eating a big breakfast and drinking whiskey like it was milk in the morning. He was stuttering, and I thought, I don’t want to talk to that guy, I won’t be able to understand a word he says. So, I picked up a guitar and started playing “Boogie Chillen”. When that same man heard me, he walked up to me and said, ‘I’m Johnny’.”
Buddy said he told the man “I don’t want to meet no Johnny, I want to meet John Lee Hooker.”
The man laughed so hard, he started crying and fell down on his knees, and again said, “I’m Johnny.”
It wasn’t until Big Mama Thorton came over, laughing, and said “Buddy, this IS Johnny Lee!”
Buddy looked at her and said, “That’s who?”
In the 1970’s, Buddy and Junior Wells toured with the Rolling Stones. At the clubs, the club owners would tell them how long they could play. Buddy and Junior became frustrated because the audience wanted to hear more of them, and they wanted to play longer. Most of the time, it was only 30 minutes. So Buddy asked Junior to come to his club and play. Buddy said that Junior Wells did, but he would have to cut the lights off to get him to stop. Both laughed at this, and said it was true.
One of the sweetest facts about Buddy was his relationship with his mama. He promised her, when he left home for Chicago, that he would come back to her driving a polka dot Cadillac when he made it big. She passed away before that could come true, and that is why he wears polka dots, to keep her memory and in honor of his mama.
The Bluesmen from Chess Records would hang out, and one night all of them promised each other that whoever lived, for however long, would Keep the Blues Alive.
Buddy Guy, You have kept that promise, and I hope you go on keeping it for a long time!
Written by DJ Sookie Jade, in honor of Buddy Guy, who was born July 30, 1936.
Citations & Documentation
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (2024, July 26). Buddy Guy | Biography, Songs, Legends, & Facts. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Buddy-Guy
Classic Rock And Country Music Facts And Trivia. (2023, June 7). When Buddy guy met muddy waters [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnBkxpV2CQM
SiriusXM. (2009, April 16). B.B. King and Buddy Guy on Meeting Jimi Hendrix | SiriusXM [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJ8Fl771sBg
BuddyGuyVevo. (2015, August 3). Buddy Guy – discusses his biggest achievement [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDux-QlOcfI
CACEINTERNATIONALTV. (2013, March 17). BUDDY GUY interview on CACE INT’L TV [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byBV649yNiY
Picture of Homeplace and Buddy from https://www.explorelouisiana.com/music/buddy-guys-birthplace
