Monday, October 03, 2011

Buddy Guy: bluesman from Baton Rouge who migrated to Chicago as a teen

Buddy Guy by kaytethinks
Buddy Guy, a photo by kaytethinks on Flickr.

George "Buddy" Guy (born July 30, 1936)[1] is an American blues and jazz guitarist and singer, says Wikipedia.

He is a critically acclaimed artist who has established himself as a pioneer of the Chicago blues sound, and has served as an influence to some of the most notable musicians of his generation. Guy is known, too, for his showmanship on stage, playing his guitar with drumsticks, or strolling into the audience while playing solos.

Born and raised in Lettsworth, Louisiana, Guy began learning guitar on a two string diddley bow he made. Later he was given a Harmony acoustic guitar, which, decades later in Guy's lengthy career was donated to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In the early '50s he began performing with bands in Baton Rouge. Soon after moving to Chicago in 1957, Guy fell under the influence of Muddy Waters.