Buddy Guy

On an early morning in 1963 — too early for most bluesmen to be conscious, let alone to answer the phone — Buddy Guy took a call from his friend Muddy Waters. “Motherfucker,” Waters began, “I want you to come down here and play acoustic on this album we gonna make.” When Guy complained about lack of rehearsal, Waters retorted, “I don’t want no rehearsal — just me and you and Willie Dixon.” Leonard Chess, the founder of Chicago’s now-legendary blues label Chess Records, had demanded that Waters dig up some old Mississippi players to record an authentic Delta blues album. What he got was Guy, a 27-year-old upstart, backing Waters on acoustic guitar. Chess was furious, but his tune changed after tape began rolling. “Motherfucker, how’d you learn to play like that?” Chess demanded. “I don’t know what I’m doing myself, man,” Guy answered. “I’m just doin’ what Muddy asked me.” Forty years later, Buddy Guy is still doing just that with perfection. Because he’s a bad-ass motherfu … well, you get the idea.