A true blues legend if ever there was one, brings his unmistakable tone to the 2014 JazzFest with the help of Whirlwind.
By Will Young
It was June 26th at the 2014 Rochester Jazz festival, and Buddy Guy took the stage with the legendary presence that everyone came to see! His set told a story with the dynamics of a skilled song smith, combined with the mojo of a very old soul! Unique to some of the other higher velocity Buddy Guy shows I've caught in the past, I was most impressed with the way he was able to bring the band to a whisper without the song ever losing a micro watt of power. The song choice was a refreshing blend of old school blues, mixed with steam rolling Chicago boogie. It is an honor to have Buddy Guy, his guitar player Ric Jazz, and bass player Orlando Wright using our cords for many years now, as well as rely on Whirlwind to handle their amp, and instrument switching with our Selector, and Multiselector family. Thank you Buddy Guy for decades of inspiration, hard work, legendary chops, and thank you for choosing Whirlwind!
Some of Buddy Guys Awards,
Guy previously served on the Hall of Fame’s nominating committee. Guy has won six[13] Grammy Awards both for his work on his electric and acoustic guitars, and for contemporary and traditional forms of blues music. In 2003, he was awarded the National Medal of Arts. This medal is awarded by the President of the United States of America to those who have made extraordinary contributions to the creation, growth and support in the arts in the United States.[14] By 2004, Guy had also earned 23 W.C. Handy Awards, Billboard magazine's The Century Award (Guy was its second recipient) for distinguished artistic achievement, and the title of Greatest Living Electric Blues Guitarist.
In 2008, Buddy Guy was inducted into The Louisiana Music Hall of Fame, performing at Texas Club in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to commemorate the occasion.
On December 2, 2012, Guy was awarded the 2012 Kennedy Center Honors.[15] At his induction, Kennedy Center Chairman David Rubenstein made the commendation, "Buddy Guy is a titan of the blues and has been a tremendous influence on virtually everyone who has picked up an electric guitar in the last half century".[16] He was honored that night along with Dustin Hoffman, Led Zeppelin (John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page and Robert Plant), David Letterman and Natalia Makarova.[17]
Guy was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on March 14, 2005, by Eric Clapton and B.B. King. Clapton recalled seeing Guy perform in London’s Marquee Club in 1965, impressing him with his technique, his looks and his charismatic showmanship. He remembered seeing Guy pick the guitar with his teeth and play it over his head—two tricks that later influenced Jimi Hendrix.[citation needed] Guy’s acceptance speech was concise: "If you don’t think you have the blues, just keep living."
In October 2009, he performed "Let Me Love You Baby" with Jeff Beck at the 25th Anniversary Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Concert.[18]
On September 20, 1996, Guy was inducted in Guitar Center's Hollywood Rockwalk.[19]
On November 15, 2010, Guy performed a live set for Guitar Center Sessions on DirecTV. The episode also included an interview with Guy by program host Nic Harcourt.[20]
On January 28, 2014, Guy was inducted into Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum.[21]
