Have you ever been in the presence of a living legend and just wanted time to stand still or even rewind a few decades? About a week ago, I attended closing night at the Chicago International Film Festival to see The Torch, a new documentary about bluesman Buddy Guy. He was at the screening along with filmmaker Jim Ferrell and Buddy’s protégé, 20-year old Quinn Sullivan.
Over the years I’ve seen Buddy Guy perform a few times. But seeing him now at age 83 after the deaths of BB King, Otis Rush and too many others, I sense some of the pressure he must feel and has felt for many years. In 1983, a dying Muddy Waters told Buddy, “Don’t let them ‘GD’ blues die on me, all right?”
Buddy and Muddy had roots in the Mississippi Delta, the birthplace of the blues, and both migrated north. An auspicious first meeting in Chicago, when Waters heard Guy play, finally gave Buddy the break he needed in the late 1950’s. And Buddy Guy has returned that favor over and over, mentoring young musicians like Quinn Sullivan as seen in The Torch.
At the documentary’s Chicago premier last week, a city official read a mayoral proclamation declaring October 27th “Buddy Guy Day.” And thankfully, he’s still playing the heck out of his polka-dotted Fender Stratocaster, keeping the blues alive and kicking!
I’m Paula Garrettand that’s my perspective.
