Buddy Guy

Buddy Guy was born as George Guy to Sam and Isabel Guy in Lettsworth, Louisiana. He was one of the five children born to the couple.

Musically inclined since young, he gained a strong interest in the melody and harmony which is visible from the fact that he created a makeshift two-string guitar from a piece of wood and few hairpins.

When he turned 19 years of age, he started working as a custodian in Baton Rouge at the Louisiana State University. No sooner he bought for himself his first acoustic guitar. He started playing at clubs in and around Baton Rouge.

The summer of 1957 changed the course of life for this budding enthusiastic musician who resolved to pursue a career in music. While he was honing his skills, he was inspired the awe-inspiring musical capabilities of as John Lee Hooker, Lightnin' Slim and Guitar Slim.

Upon his friends’ suggestion and with a personal will to earn a better living for himself, he left for Chicago in 1958. Reaching Chicago, assisted by fellow bluesman magic Sam, he signed a contract with Cobra Records. He continued to record singles for the company for a year until it closed down.

He then met Otis Rush who introduced him to 708 Club, a place that would eventually turn the life for him. While performing at the club, he met his idol, Muddy Waters, who in turn was deeply impressed with the fresh talent that Guy oozed out. His music was very well accepted by the club audience which led to him becoming a frequent performer.

It was while performing at the 708 Club that he was noticed by composer Willie Dixon. With Dixon’s assistance and contacts, he finally managed to bag a contract for himself with the Chess Records.

His early years of music were dominated by both conservative and business choices made by the Chess Record label. He wasn’t given the freedom to perform in his own novel style and had to stick to the choice laid out by Chess Records founder, Leonard Chess, who so much so tagged the former’s style as ‘noise’.

He is the proud recipient of six Grammy Awards for his work on both acoustic and electric guitar and contemporary and traditional form of music.

In 1996, he was inducted in Guitar Center's Hollywood Rockwalk.

In 2003, he was conferred with the National Medal of Arts for extraordinary contributions to the creation, growth and support in the arts

He has received 23 W.C. Handy Awards, which is more than what any other artist has ever received. Additionally, he received the Billboard magazine's The Century Award for distinguished artistic achievement. He was even awarded the title of Greatest Living Electric Blues Guitarist.

In 2005, he was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Three years later, he was inducted in the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame.