Buddy Guy - one of the real class acts in the music industry

If you're looking for one of the classiest musicians in the music industry, look no further than Buddy Guy.  He came up in another post and thought I would expand a little on a few of the things he has done that has earned some respect from me. 

Story 1 - I was standing on the side of the stage and he tossed a pick meant for a little boy. Some grown up adult bullied his way through the kid and got the pick. Buddy stopped playing and said "Hey...that pick was meant for that little boy. I'm not going to play another note until I see you hand that pick to that little boy." 

Story 2 - This one guy in the crowd at another show kept yelling "Yo..Buddy...you're the best, Play it Buddy, etc.". He was being really loud and obnoxious. Finally about an hour into the show Buddy stops playing again and goes "Why don't you shut the f*** up. You're at a blues show. You're suppossed to be quiet when you're at a blues show." The whole crowd erupted in laughter.

Story 3 - Buddy will walk through the crowd during his shows and make his way to the back of the venue - giving everyone a front row seat.  I've seen him spend entire shows playing literally an arms length away from the wheelchair bound/handicapped fans who came to see him.  I've even seen him go OUTSIDE of his club Buddy Guy's in Chicago and play on the sidewalk in the middle of January.

Story 4 - When he makes his way back to the stage, I've seen him ask people if they know how to play the blues.  There was one girl...couldn't have been more than 15 years old tops...at the Cleveland Agora who said "Yes...I can play the blues".  Buddy said "Come with me..."  He took her up onstage asked her name, took his guitar off and handed it to her and said "Let's hear you play some blues".  He went and sat on his stool, sipping on coffee, and gave her 100 percent of his attention and listened to her play a song.  How cool is that?

If you're looking for some really good blues music or if you're not a fan of the blues.  Do yourself a favor and check out Buddy Guy.  You might just get hooked on blues music.  If you're looking for a great night of live music entertainment, make it a point to catch a Buddy Guy show sometime.  You'll go away blown away and with a smile on your face.  All you aspiring musicians out there...do yourself a favor and dive right into the blues.  There are so many licks and tricks hidden away in alot of the blues material that you can infuse into your own style of music.  Hopefully, if I can turn just 1 person out there into a Buddy Guy and/or blues fan, then I've succeeded in writing this article. 

On a side note...I have an old interview laying around somewhere I need to break out.  Buddy Guy breaks down crying when he was asked why there wasn't any pure blues players in the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame.  That obviously was before Buddy got the nod.  It was amazing at how much his heart was into it, that he really broke down and was crying.  If that's not pure honesty, I don't what is.